AID SOUGHT IN SETTING UP MEDICINAL POT PROGRAM

Humboldt County supervisors are looking for help from the health department
in creating a program identifying legitimate medicinal marijuana users.

The board also voted 3-2 to ask the county's legal staff to draft a
medicinal marijuana ordinance.

District Attorney Terry Farmer and Sheriff Dennis Lewis have expressed a
willingness to work with the health department to create a system of
identity cards for people whose doctors have recommended marijuana as an
antidote to various illnesses.

The recommendations would have to come from, or be confirmed by, a local
physician.

A more difficult issue is who will be allowed to grow and distribute
marijuana for medicinal uses. Supervisors suggested that it be done through
the cannabis center in Arcata, which is regulated by police in that city.