SUIT IS A BUST

Last week's rejection of San Bernardino County's challenge to the
voter-approved medical marijuana law should send a strong message to
county supervisors. California's voters, legislature, governor,
attorney general - and now, an appeals court - have directed San
Bernardino officials to obey the 12-year-old medical marijuana law.
It's about time they listened.

San Bernardino County needs to join counties such as Riverside,
Orange and Kern by implementing the state's medical marijuana ID card program.

Further, hopefully, when county supervisors decide whether to use
precious resources to appeal the court's decision, they will side
with taxpayers - who are footing the bill for the legal teams on both
sides. A successful appeal in the state Supreme Court is next to
impossible; the court just recently denied review of a similar
medical marijuana ruling.

The time for costly political grandstanding in the courts is over.

San Bernardino County's leaders should have more important things to
do with limited county funds than pursuing another frivolous lawsuit
aimed at undermining the will of the voters.

F. Aaron Smith

California organizer, Marijuana Policy Project