S.J. POT LAWS IGNORE AILING, ADVOCATE SAYS

A Stockton activist for the use of medical marijuana urged San Joaquin
County supervisors Tuesday to take the lead in finding a way for county
residents to get the drug legally.

Michael Lang asked the county to help him establish a task force to study
how, possibly with the county's help, people with a prescription for
marijuana can get it without traveling to dispensaries in the Bay Area. A
state initiative legalized the drug's use for medical reasons, though
federal law still bans even that use.

"I know the county provides methadone clinics for our junkies," Lang said,
referring to a treatment for heroin addiction that involves a prescribed
drug. "But we have no way to provide (medical) marijuana."

Lang said county residents taking marijuana, such as for chronic pain or to
relieve nausea induced by chemotherapy, go to a legal marijuana dispensary
in the Bay Area or buy the drug on the black market here. He said he smokes
marijuana daily because of back pain.

"I'd rather smoke two joints a day than eat all the pills my doctor gave
me," Lang said. The prescription pills are ineffective, he said.

Supervisor Steve Gutierrez said Lang's suggestion is worth considering but
raises concerns.

"Most people have mixed feelings about this," Gutierrez said. "I think one
has to be very clear about the message. ... I'm not sure that San Joaquin
County is ready for something like this."

But Lang said other municipalities have successfully regulated and taxed
marijuana's use and distribution.

"Whether San Joaquin County is ready or not, it's the law in California,"
Lang said. "There's ways to control this. ... I'm not asking San Joaquin
County to go out on a limb."

Lang suggested the task force could consider guidelines for how medical
marijuana could be distributed in the county and what public or private
organizations or would do so. The task force also could consider whether
people with marijuana prescriptions could have an identification card to
show authorities, he said.

Supervisors did not act on Lang's request Tuesday.

To reach reporter Dogen Hannah, phone 546-8273 or e-mail dhannah@recordnet.com