MEDICAL POT ISSUE PUSHED

Yuba County residents may get a chance to voice their opinions on ID
cards for medical marijuana users if county officials grant an
organization's request.

Safe Access Now, a nonprofit organization promoting legal access to
medical marijuana, will submit a request during Tuesday's Board of
Supervisors meeting to schedule public hearings to follow state law
and implement an ID program.

"The county just hasn't directed the work to a department," said
Aaron Smith, state coordinator for Safe Access Now. "Once action is
taken by the county, patients can apply for the cards, making it
easier for legitimate users."

The state's Compassionate Use Act, passed in 1996, allows doctors to
prescribe marijuana for medical purposes. Similarly, in 2003, state
legislators approved a bill enabling the state Department of Health
Services to maintain a program issuing identification cards.

Smith said that by assigning the process to a department, Yuba County
officials would be helping law enforcement as well as implementing the law.

"Right now, there is no way to identify legitimate users. It's very
difficult," Smith said. "It's up to law enforcement to determine if
it's verifiable. It's a mechanism to curb abuse."

To date, 35 of California's 58 counties, including Butte, Plumas and
Sierra, have adopted an ID card program and set fees averaging $150.

Some Yuba supervisors, however, said they were opposed to such an
effort because they are opposed to the law.

"When federal law conforms to the state law, then it'll be
considered," Supervisor Don Schrader said. "But this argument has
come up many times; I don't think it's appropriate for the board to
get involved in state law."

Supervisor John Nicoletti added that a lawsuit in San Diego County
over the legality of medical marijuana has the Yuba County Board of
Supervisors waiting and watching.

"We're all just glad we're not in the middle, but watching on the
sidelines," he said. "Right now, we're just waiting to see how that
lawsuit goes."

Steve King, a member of the Compassionate Use Group of Yuba and
Sutter, said an ID card program should have been implemented long ago.

"The law passed in 2003," he said. "Basically, it's a card to show
officers when they're stopped and verify they are legitimate."

Smith will present information about the state's medical marijuana
laws to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, while urging elected
officials to set public hearing dates to implement the law.