COMPASSIONATE CITY COUNCIL DESERVES KUDOS

I am proud to be an Oaklander. The city often makes me proud. I can't always
make that statement about our city leaders. But today, I am proud to be a
resident of Oakland because of the leadership of our city officials.

At last week's City Council meeting, members took a vote of courage,
compassion and reason. The council voted to declare a public health
emergency in the wake of the closing of the Oakland Cannabis Buyers'
Cooperative. The cooperative, which distributed medical marijuana, was
closed last week following a ruling by a U.S. District court judge. The
organization is appealing the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals. but that court rejected a request for the Cooperative to stay open
pending an appeal.

This wasn't the first time the city stepped up to the plate on this issue.
In July, the council passed the most liberal medical marijuana policy in the
state and later approved an ordinance that attempted to protect the
cooperative by making the workers agents of the city.

Neither measure was able to keep the feds from closing in on the cooperative
and eventually shutting its doors. {Don't those guys have anything better to
do than deprive seriously ill people of a sub-stance that relieves their
pain?) And the council could have easily washed its hands of the issue,
pointing to the previous efforts.

But they didn't. They took one step farther down a road that supports the
California voters who approved the medical use of marijuana with Proposition
215. One step closer to exposing the hypocrisy, idiocy, cruelty and naked
political expediency of the efforts to keep sick people from using marijuana
for medicinal purposes.

The proposal for the declaration of a public health emergency came from
Council member Nate Miley, chairperson of the public safety committee. As
several speakers pointed out, the council vote did not create the
emergency -- it was simply recognizing the emergency created when the feds
closed the cooperative.

The attorney for the cooperative read testimonials from patients about the
importance of the organization: "I would be malnourished and die." "I would
lose my eyesight." "I would not be able to sleep." "I could not bear the
pain."

Without the cooperative, people who have benefited from the anti-nausea and
pain-relieving effects of marijuana will have to consider turning to the
illegal sale of the substance, or going without.

"It's tragic to imagine being in the position of being helped by the
medicine and now not being able to get it," said one cancer patient who has
used marijuana to ease nausea and insomnia caused by chemotherapy. "That's a
terrible position to be in."

"It helps pain and suffering, We know that for a fact," said Miley. "Its
important to go on the record." He said the public safety committee will
take up the issue of whether the city will distribute the substance.

Council member John Russo seconded Mlley's motion for the declaration.
"We're not creating the emergency. The emergency was created by the phony
political debate that surrounds this issue," he said. "It's not a rationale
debate."

Russo pointed out the federal government has no problem with sick people
taking morphine and a list of other pain killers.

"We will be portrayed as licentious and a bastion of moral laxity," Russo
said. "But this government is not soft on crime. We have a clear policy on
harm reduction and easing human pain and suffering."

Like I said, they made me proud.

Some have dismissed the ordinance as only symbolic, but in this hugely
symbolic war, even symbolism that supports compassion ts important.

Robert Ralch. attorney for the cooperative, said the city action could
convince other cities and organizations, such as churches, to support
medicinal use of marijuana or even act as distributors.

After the ordinance passed, audience members shouted, "Thank you for my
life." "Bless you."

"I have so much respect for what Oakland has done in standing up for what is
right, logical and compassionate." said one speaker. "I am proud of the
council and proud to be a resident of Oakland."

Ditto.

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst