SACRAMENTO COUNTY BOARD BACKS ID CARDS FOR MEDICAL POT USERS

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a
resolution to begin issuing identification cards for patients who use
medical marijuana.

The board followed the strong recommendation of its county counsel,
who worried supervisors could face unwinnable litigation. Sacramento
Sheriff John McGinness also had dropped his earlier opposition.

In a 4-1 vote, the board approved the resolution. Supervisor Roberta
MacGlashan cast the dissenting vote.

In March, supervisors had shot down a similar resolution to begin
issuing the cards, which are mandated by a 2003 state law.

At that time McGinness had opposed the cards, saying they
contradicted federal laws that still classify marijuana as an illegal
drug. Supervisors MacGlashan, Don Nottoli and Susan Peters had voted
against the measure.

Since that time, a state appeals court upheld the ID card program,
which San Diego and San Bernardino counties had challenged through a
lawsuit. The California Supreme Court in October declined to hear the case.

Based on that decision, County Counsel Robert Ryan advised the board
to approve the cards or risk facing a lawsuit the county couldn't
win. McGinness also advised supervisors to follow state law.

More than a dozen medical marijuana-using patients and advocates
attended the meeting to support the resolution. Many talked of the
relief marijuana provided; others questioned why the county would
invite a costly lawsuit.

"To me the testimony is compelling," Supervisor Roger Dickinson said
before voting. "The issue here today is whether we follow the law."

The cards will cost $166 for patients without Medi-Cal and $83 for
those with the insurance. The cards will be good for one year from
the date of issuance and need to be renewed annually.