SUPES NEED TO OBEY STATE POT LAW

The March 8 editorial "Like it or not, it's the law" calling on the
Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to implement the state's
medical marijuana ID card program was right on target.

Just last year, one of California's most conservative appellate courts
ruled, "it is not the job of the local police to enforce the federal
drug laws." That leaves them with the voter-approved medical marijuana
law, which will be easier to enforce once the ID card program is in
place.

Local peace officers will be able to verify that a medical board-
approved doctor has recommended a patient's use of marijuana nearly
instantly, any time of the day or night. This is why the program is
working well in counties that have made it available, including most
of Sacramento's neighbors.

Additionally, no federal authority has ever alleged that issuing the
ID card violates federal drug laws. In fact, not implementing the
program would amount to a violation of state law. Voters, taxpayers
and law enforcement officers would be served well to have the Board of
Supervisors swiftly implement this program.

F. Aaron Smith,

Santa Rosa

California Organizer, Marijuana Policy Project