SOLANO COUNTY SUED OVER POT ID CARDS

FAIRFIELD -- A medical-marijuana advocacy group sued Solano County on
Monday for its failure to issue identification cards to users of
medicinal cannabis as required by state law.

The lawsuit, filed in Solano County Superior Court, said the county
is among several in California that have failed to give out the
cards, which protect their holders from arrest by state or local
police for possessing small amounts of marijuana.

"Solano County cannot simply flout its obligation under the law," Joe
Elford, an attorney for Americans for Safe Access, said in a statement.

The group sent letters to Solano County in August and October urging
it to comply with the 2003 law requiring the marijuana ID card
program, Elford said.

In July, a state court of appeal upheld California's medical
marijuana law enacted in 1996, rejecting arguments by San Diego and
San Bernardino counties that allowing patients to use the drug with
their doctor's approval condoned violations of federal narcotics laws.

Of California's 58 counties, 51 comply with the ID card program, Elford said.

Jo Ann Parker, deputy Solano County counsel, said the county had not
yet been served with the suit. But she noted that the Board of
Supervisors is scheduled to discuss the ID card program in closed
session Jan. 13.