COUNTY SETS MEDICAL MARIJUANA I.D. CARD FEE

Yreka, Calif. - After months of studying the issue, hearing
recommendations from Public Health, proposing an ordinance, revising
the ordinance and finally holding a public hearing, county
supervisors approved an ordinance at its Nov. 18 meeting, setting the
fees for medical marijuana I.D. cards mandated by the state and
issued by the county.

The fee for a medical marijuana I.D. card was set at $156, which
includes the current state fee of $66. Medi-Cal recipients would pay
one half of the cost - $78.

Public Health and Community Development Director Terry Barber said
that the fee was established by taking an average of what 18 counties
currently charge. Some, like Shasta County, are lower, charging just
$106, while others are more substantial - Tulare County charges $268.

California State Senate Bill 420 mandated medical marijuana I.D.
cards. It was passed in 2003 to assist in the administration of the
Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Proposition 215), which legalized the
medical use of marijuana.

According to the Legislative Counsel's Digest, SB 420 required the
state Department of Health Services "to establish and maintain a
voluntary program for the issuance of identification cards to
qualified patients and would establish procedures under which a
qualified patient with an identification card may use marijuana for
medical purposes."

The bill imposed various duties upon county health departments
relating to the issuance of these I.D. cards, thus creating a
state-mandated program.

The I.D. cards are good for one year, after which they must be
renewed. Emancipated minors may apply for a card if all the necessary
qualifications are met. Children under the age of 18 must have
parental consent to apply for a card.

Two people from the audience spoke against approval of the ordinance.

Paul Von Hartman of Mount Shasta, who identified himself as both a
cannabis scholar and a member of the cannabis ministry, said,
"Imposing an additional fee for a medical marijuana I.D. card is
redundant; it's not right and I'm opposing it."

He referred to the marijuana plant as, "a gift that has been given to
our species by the force that created our planet" and said marijuana
could "improve the quality of life in Siskiyou County."

Gulf War veteran Jennifer Mesenbrink of Horse Creek said she formerly
worked with the Oregon Youth Program. She has a permit to grow 28
plants, but was only growing 12 when she was arrested for cultivation
of a controlled substance. She said that the medical marijuana I.D.
card program was supposed to be voluntary and she can't understand
why she is being forced to pay a fee.

Other Personal Health Division fees were raised by the ordinance.
These include fees for vaccinations, travel immunizations and for
tuberculosis skin testing.

Supervisor Jim Cook made the motion to approve the ordinance.
Supervisor Bill Overman seconded it. The vote for approval was 4-0.
Supervisor LaVada Erickson was absent.