SEBASTOPOL COUNCIL PASSES PROPOSAL SUPPORTING MEDICAL MARIJUANA

SEBASTOPOL, Calif. -(AP)- The city council here passed a resolution making
it police department policy not to report medical marijuana cases to the
federal Drug Enforcement Administration and affirming the council's support
of the use of medical marijuana by authorized patients.

"Simply, what this is doing is affirming our support for California law,"
said Councilman Larry Robinson, who voted for the resolution, which passed
3-1.

One council member was absent at Tuesday's meeting.

Bob Anderson, the sole dissenting vote, told the council he was concerned
the resolution might send the wrong message about illegal - non-medicinal -
marijuana cultivation and enforcement, and wanted more discussion before
passing it.

California voters approved the use of marijuana as medicine in 1996 with
Proposition 215, and Sonoma County guidelines allow patients or their
caregivers to grow an area of 100 square feet of marijuana crops, including
up to 99 plants per year per patient.

The resolution was brought to the council by the Sonoma Alliance for Medical
Marijuana in response to several DEA raids involving medical marijuana
patients and caregivers, spokesman Don Knapp said.

"The patients need the kind of protection from local officials we got here
tonight," Knapp said. "Its the first line of defense from an oppressive
federal government that is just out of line."

The council also approved support of HR 2592, the "States Right To Medical
Marijuana Act," which would reduce marijuana's federal drug classification
from Schedule I to Schedule II, and allow states to administer their own
medical marijuana laws without interference from the federal government,
according to the resolution.

A spokesman for the Sebastopol Police Department said the department had no
position on the ordinance, but is obligated to follow the policies the city
council sets.

Robin Latham, 44, lives in Sebastopol and uses medical marijuana
occasionally to help ease the symptoms of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

"I'm thankful that you're helping us become a more compassionate culture,"
Latham told the council. "This is an important step for us to take."