CITY COUNCIL NAMES MEDICAL MARIJUANA TASK FORCE

After years of impassioned pleas from sick residents, the San Diego City
Council agreed yesterday to appoint a task force to find a way to implement
the 1996 ballot measure that legalized the medical use of marijuana.

The primary problem with Proposition 215 for San Diego and other California
cities has been that the measure conflicts with federal law, which
prohibits the sale and distribution of marijuana.

On May 14, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-0 that federal drug laws, which
ban the use and distribution of marijuana, do not exempt patients suffering
from cancer, AIDS or other painful diseases. But it did not strike down the
California law.

Proposition 215 allows the cultivation and use of marijuana for some
medical conditions with a doctor's recommendation.

In a May 18 report on the ruling, City Attorney Casey Gwinn stated there is
no way to "legally harmonize" the state and federal laws.

"Therefore, local municipalities should exercise caution in adopting any
laws or policies that address the distribution of marijuana for medicinal
use," Gwinn wrote.

Still, Gwinn said yesterday, the ruling does not preclude the city from
forming the task force.

With that, the council unanimously approved a list of 12 members for the
Proposition 215 Implementation Task Force, which is charged with making
recommendations on how to resolve the conflict between state and federal
laws, if possible.

Its other responsibilities will include:

Investigating what local advocacy groups exist and determining whether
relevant information is getting to patients.

Keeping track of local law enforcement efforts, including activities of the
San Diego County District Attorney's Working Group.

Monitoring medical research efforts that are germane to the ballot measure.

Following and supporting state legislation that seeks to help
municipalities to respond to Proposition 215.

The task force is composed of physicians, as well as law enforcement
officials, patients, public-interest legal advocates and representatives
from nonprofit organizations that provide services to cancer, AIDS and
other patients that use marijuana for relief of pain and other symptoms.

On the task force are Dr. Drew Mattison, Dale Kelly Bankhead, St. Clair
Adams, Dennis Triglia, Michael Bartellmo, Jerry Meier, Al Best, Dr. Daniel
Pearce, Juliana Humphrey, Steven McWilliams, Ann Shanahan Walsh and Larry
Chaidez.

Before the vote, Adams, who said he has been HIV-positive for 16 years,
urged the council to form the task force so that patients don't have to put
themselves in danger trying to obtain marijuana. He said people are at risk
when they buy the drug on the black market because it can be laced with
designer drugs or covered with mold.

Beverly Walker, who said she was born with a rare connective tissue
disorder, said she lives each day in pain. Her voice broke as she
encouraged the council to approve the task force.

"I personally have not sought out (marijuana) because it's illegal," she
said. "Would it have helped? Probably."