The Compassionate Coalition

Dear medical marijuana supporter-

The Modesto Bee ran an article on the medical marijuana ID card program last Wednesday. The Modesto Chief of Police and County Supervisor Ray Simon both made ridiculous statements about medical marijuana and the ID card program.

Please read the article below and respond with a 100-200 word "letter to the editor," to rebut these baseless comments. Letters should be submitted using this online form: http://www.modbee.com/service/print_letters.html

Talking points supporting the medical marijuana ID card program can be found here: http://www.aaronsmith.org/mmic_talking_points.pdf

Thank you for helping protect safe access in Stanislaus County.

Sincerely,
Aaron Smith
Safe Access Now
safeaccessnow@gmail.com
707-291-0076

http://www.modbee.com/local/v-rssxml/story/12653188p-13355276c.html

State requires county to issue medical pot cards
Police chief says system creates crime; supervisor calls program 'huge fraud'

By TIM MORAN
BEE STAFF WRITER
Last Updated: August 30, 2006, 05:39:02 AM PDT

Modesto Police Chief Roy Wasden doesn't support it, and Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors Chairman Ray Simon considers it "a huge fraud," but the county is proceeding with plans to issue medical marijuana cards.

The county is required by state law to issue the cards to patients who have a recommendation from a doctor that they would benefit from medical marijuana.

California voters approved Proposition 215 in 1996, removing state criminal penalties for the medical use of marijuana.

Proponents of the law believe marijuana helps treat a variety of conditions, from cancer and HIV/AIDS to epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and arthritis.

With identification cards, patients can demonstrate to police officers that they are entitled to possess marijuana.

Under the law, patients or caregivers can have up to eight ounces of dried marijuana, or six mature plants. They can possess up to 12 immature plants.

Marijuana use remains against federal law, however, leaving medical users in a legal limbo.

Wasden wrote to the Board of Supervisors last week on behalf of the county Law Enforcement Executive Association in opposition to issuance of the cards. The association is made up of police chiefs in the county and the sheriff.

"The current system lacks adequate control verification and creates crime associated with drug use and drug production," Wasden wrote.

'We feel this is really bad for our kids'

In an interview Tuesday, Wasden said the police chiefs association wanted to be on record opposing the medical cards.

"We feel this is really bad for our kids, and bad for the community," he said. If marijuana is to be used medically, it should go through a formal U.S. Food and Drug Administration trial and be dispensed by prescription through pharmaceutical companies, Wasden said.

"Medical marijuana is a front for legalizing marijuana," he said.

Cost will be passed on to patient

Deputy County Counsel Dean Wright told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that issuing the cards as required by state law is a separate issue from allowing anyone to sell marijuana in the county.

The cards are voluntary — patients don't need the card to comply with the state law. They might help a patient avoid an arrest, however, and can be used to defend against drug charges.

The county is in the process of acquiring cameras, fingerprint equipment and forms to comply with the state law, Wright said.

The cost of issuing the cards will be about $70, which will be passed along to the patient, Wright said, although the amount can be discounted if the patient can't afford it.

Simon, a vocal critic of the program, said he wanted the county to track how many cards are issued and if physicians recommending marijuana are from Stanislaus County.

"I personally feel the program is a huge fraud perpetrated on us by the state of California," Simon said. "Whatever we can do to keep track of this is important."

Wasden's letter was referred to the county Health Services Agency, which is in charge of issuing the cards, and the county counsel's office.