PATIENTS RALLY FOR MEDICINAL MARIJUANA USE

Former trauma nurse Alcima Talbott was hit so hard by a patient that
her jaw was dislocated, her teeth broken, her neck seriously injured
and her brain apparently damaged.

Now unable to work because of chronic pain and spasms, she was back in
front of her old boss and San Bernardino County supervisors on Tuesday
pleading with them to drop their plans to file a lawsuit challenging
California's medical-marijuana law.

"My (other) choice is to take vicodin, go to bed, get up, take
vicodin, go to bed," she told the Board of Supervisors.

About a dozen supporters of Proposition 215, California's
medical-marijuana law approved in 1996, asked the board not to join
San Diego County's suit against it.

After the meeting, they demonstrated in front of the County Government
Center in downtown San Bernardino with signs and banners reading
"Cannabis is medicine" and "Stop arresting medical marijuana patients."

Talbott worked at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, the county
hospital in Colton that was run for several years by Mark Uffer, who
is now the county administrative officer, the top appointed official
in county government.

With heavy doses of vicodin, a popular and powerful narcotic
painkiller, she was unable to function, she said. Marijuana is the
only medication that works for her.

"The medication is so effective. I use it for severe pain" and to
reduce neck spasms, she said. "I really didn't want it to work."

Also testifying were two of her children, who credited marijuana with
giving them their mother back.

"Since she started medical marijuana, she has been able to get out of
bed and spend time with her family," her 12-year-old daughter,
Alexandra Talbott, told the board.

Sara Henuber, a registered physician's assistant from Los Angeles who
worked for a time in San Bernardino County, told the board cannabis is
a "safe and benign" medicine that does have benefits.

She said she's known of patients who have been harassed by deputies
and had their doctor's letter and marijuana seized without any
citations or charges.

"I believe San Bernardino County is going against the will of county
voters," she said.

The county's lawsuit, scheduled to be filed today in San Diego, will
argue that federal law pre-empts state law, said Deputy County Counsel
Alan Green.

"It's creating a lot of confusion for sheriff's deputies," he
said.

Sheriff Gary Penrod asked the board to file the suit to clarify what
rules his deputies must enforce.

Lawsuits have been brought against the county to return marijuana
confiscated from patients, he said.

"Under federal law, if we give it back, we're aiding and abetting
marijuana use," Green said.

A U.S. Supreme Court decision last year said patients who use or
cultivate marijuana are not immune to prosecution under federal law
banning controlled substances.

Tuesday's demonstration and testimony was organized by Americans for
Safe Access, a group that works on behalf of medical-marijuana patients.

Robert Brunelle, 24, told the board his wife uses marijuana and that
he's known many people with cancer or HIV who have used it
effectively.

"I can't help but think that what you're doing is wrong," he
said.

After the meeting, his wife, Cindy Brunelle, 22, said she has chronic
shoulder pain and depression.

"I've tried every depression medication in the world," she said,
adding, "Marijuana is the only thing I still function on."