S.F. SEEKING POT CLUB ALTERNATIVES

Backed by mayor, Ammiano pens bill to push for lawful execution of Prop. 215

Supervisor Tom Ammiano might introduce legislation as soon as Monday asking
the city attorney's office to draw up a model for the distribution of
marijuana to medically ill patients.

Ammiano attended a meeting Thursday with Mayor Brown, Police Chief Fred
Lau, District Attorney Terence Hallinan, Sheriff Michael Hennessey, Public
Health Director Mitch Katz and fellow supervisors Barbara Kaufman and Mark
Leno and others about the issue.

"We want to try to find some way to guarantee that people who are sick and
need marijuana to improve their condition can find a way to do that legally
within the confines of Prop. 215," Hallinan said.

Hallinan said city officials believe there is a way, within state and
federal laws, for ill people who need marijuana as medicine to get their
drug.

Figuring out where to get the product and how to distribute it plague the plan.

Brown made it clear The City wouldn't distribute the drug. He also was not
offering his suggestions on how to get marijuana to patients.

"The city attorney and the district attorney are trying to craft an
appropriate ordinance," Brown said. "One that will provide the greatest
security and meet court tests."

Brown later said, "You can conclude The City won't be distributing
anything. The conversation was based around the best way to sanction the
availability of these materials for those who medically need it.

Ammiano said there were city models in Arcadia and West Hollywood that
could be studied. Both of those cities contract out the distribution of
medical marijuana, Ammiano said.

All in the meeting agreed that the health department, not the police
department, should have oversight of any program that distributes
marijuana.

"We have the moral duty to give it a shot to see if we can come up with a
model to implement Prop. 215 that wouldn't result in everybody being
busted," Ammiano said.

1998 San Francisco Examiner Page A 7

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)