NEW BEGINNING FOR 215?

A week from today, politicians, doctors and law enforcement agents will
meet in Sacramento to discuss whether cities should distribute marijuana to
seriously ill Californians.

The "Medical Marijuana Distributlon Summit" was announced Monday by state
Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara, and other leaders from around the
state seeking a way to uphold Proposition 215.

"We need a dlstribution system that's responsible, trustworthy and safe,"
Vasconcellos said during a morning phone press conference.

"We need to find a lawful way to implement the will of the people," said
George Kennedy, Santa Clara County's district attorney.

Since voters in 1996 passed the measure that legalized marijuana for
seriously ill people, the state Attorney General's office and the U.S.
Department of Justice have cracked down on cannabis clubs, the only
institutions openly distributing the drug on a widespread basis.

"It's basically been chaos for the last 18 months," said Scott Imler,
director of the Los Angeles Cannabis Buyers' Club.

Last Thnrsday, a U.S. judge said he plans to order the closure of six
Northern California clubs because they violate federal drug laws. But U.S.
District Judge Charles Breyer did not rule on whether Prop. 215 is
constitutional or whether a seriously ill person can possess marijuana.

Medical marijuana supporters are considering alternative methods of
distribution, including city-backed approaches.

"Breyer almost threw a challenge to us to assure that this become a health
model," said San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan.

Notably, no one will attend the summit from the office's of U.S. Attorney
Michael Yamaguchi, who is leading the federal fight to keep marijuana
distribution and cultivation illegal. His office declined an invitation,
Vasconcellos said.

Checked-by: jwjohnson@netmagic.net (Joel W. Johnson)