ID CARD FOR MARIJUANA PATIENTS URGED

A proposed state law that would create county-issued identification cards
for medical marijuana users should be passed, the San Diego City Council
recommended yesterday.

Senate Bill 187 would help implement Proposition 215, the 1996 state ballot
measure to allow the medical use of marijuana. Issuing cards to sick people
who use marijuana to relieve their symptoms is meant to protect them from
arrest.

"This is just another way for (patients) to be able to prove their medical
need," said Juliana Humphrey, chairwoman of the city's Medical Marijuana
Task Force. "For the police, they don't want to arrest sick people."

The council voted 8-1 to support the legislation, which would establish a
voluntary state registry for medical marijuana users. Those who chose to
register would be issued cards by county health departments indicating they
were entitled to use marijuana for medical purposes.

"It is a health issue," said Councilman George Stevens. "It is a very
serious health issue to relieve their pain."

Councilman Brian Maienschein was the dissenter. Even as the state
legislation works its way through the process, the city's Medical Marijuana
Task Force plans to present a proposal for municipal identification cards to
the council's Public Safety & Neighborhood Services Committee as soon as
next month, Humphrey said in an interview after the council vote.

A state program is preferable because it would apply to more people and
eliminate jurisdictional concerns, Humphrey said. But she said the city will
proceed "on a parallel track" with the state legislation.

"We're going to carry on for our own citizens," Humphrey said. Humphrey said
the task force's proposal would be based on what others have done, including
the city of San Francisco. In considering the issuance of identification
cards, Humphrey said: "San Diego is not going out on a limb here. All (we
are) doing is assisting in the implementation of an existing law." San
Francisco is the only large California city that issues such cards. It
adopted a program last year that allows sick people with a doctor's note to
pay a $25 fee to get a card that allows them to use marijuana to relieve
their symptoms.