MEDICAL MARIJUANA WORTHY OF SUPPORT

This Tuesday, the Salinas City Council will consider adopting an
ordinance which will expressly prohibit the operation of medical
marijuana dispensaries within the city.

While this proposed ordinance does not prohibit qualified patients
from possessing or using medical marijuana as prescribed by a
physician, it will prohibit legal patients from getting their
prescriptions filled at regulated dispensaries within city limits.
The number of patients in California who rely on medical marijuana
for treatment continues to increase as physicians have expanded the
use of marijuana to treat symptoms of diseases such as headaches,
spinal injuries, cancers, heart disease, arthritis, anorexia and depression.

In 1996, California voters approved Proposition 215, the
Compassionate Use Act, which allows for the safe and affordable
distribution of marijuana to all patients in medical need of
marijuana. As of October 2006, 26 cities and seven counties in
California have enacted ordinances to allow for the operation of
dispensaries with stringent regulations in place to ensure both the
protection of the community and meet the medical needs of legal patients.

Interestingly, additional regulations and police presence have
prompted residents in Kern County, San Francisco, Santa Cruz,
Oakland, and Santa Rosa to report safer street environments with
fewer drug-related problems than before the dispensaries operations
were permitted within the area. I believe that local government does
have a responsibility for the legitimate and legal medical needs of
residents by providing patients with a safe means of acquiring
prescription marijuana.

Jyl Lutes, Salinas city councilwoman