MARIJUANA ID CARDS COMING ON MONDAY

They're Designed So Police Will Know Patients Have Medical Need

Starting Monday, medical marijuana patients in the county can apply
for an identification card that shows proof they can legally use the drug.

The program, which was enacted under Senate Bill 420, is designed to
alleviate confusion between police and those who are legally allowed
to transport and consume the drug.

Though 41 other counties in California have enacted similar
state-mandated programs, Ventura County officials wanted to see how a
series of lawsuits played out before starting a program here.

San Diego and a few other counties had sued the state, claiming the
medical marijuana laws put in place by voters under Proposition 215
in 1996 ran contrary to federal laws outlawing marijuana. The state
Supreme Court would not hear the case, and San Diego said it will
appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ventura County Public Health Director Barry Fisher said the county
wanted to wait until the suit seemed mostly settled before a program
was started here.

The department put a notice on its Web site last week about the
program starting and notified some of the groups that have been
inquiring about the identity cards.

But Michael Meyer, the Ventura County organizer for Americans for
Safe Access, said he thinks the county is keeping the program low key
so as not to attract attention to it.

"I think they are trying to minimize exposure, and I understand it
because even the patients are very paranoid in Ventura," said Meyer,
who uses marijuana because he suffers from migraines as well as other
ailments. "This is a big deal because it signals that the county is
finally recognizing the law, and it will help us open up lines of
communication with law enforcement."

He said Ventura County hasn't been very receptive to medical
marijuana thus far.

Cities around the county, including Moorpark and Oxnard, have adopted
temporary moratoriums on allowing dispensaries to open. Simi Valley
enacted a permanent one.

Meyer said he's making an effort to see if Ventura may be more
receptive to the idea of opening one.

How many people will take advantage of the new ID program in the
county is debatable. In Los Angeles County, where there are a lot
more residents and dispensaries, participation in the program has
been relatively low, Fisher said.

But Meyer estimates there are 10,000 to 15,000 medical marijuana
patients in Ventura County, and many of them will seek out the ID
cards to avoid confusion when dealing with police.

The card costs $191 or $95.50 for Medi-Cal patients. A number of
forms are needed to obtain the card, including original documentation
for a prescription from a doctor as well as proof of residency in
Ventura County.

To set up an appointment to get a card, call 981-5301.