IN OUR OPINION: DAVIS SHOULD SIGN SB 420

As of Monday afternoon Gov. Gray Davis had still not signed SB 420,
the bill that would set up a statewide medical marijuana ID card
system. We hope he does soon.

Ever since Prop. 215 was approved by the voters in 1996, the state
(both the Legislature and the Attorney General's office) has left
medical marijuana users in limbo by refusing to provide legitimate
guidelines for medical marijuana use. As a result, in counties where
law enforcement authorities disagree with the law, medical marijuana
users have been forced to continue to defend themselves against
unwarranted arrest and illegal confiscation of their medicine.

Mendocino County of course was way ahead of the pack in instituting
medical marijuana ID cards early, thanks to the combined efforts of DA
Norm Vroman, Sheriff Tony Craver and Public Health Officer Marvin Trotter.

Other counties have followed our example, but many counties still have
no system in place. SB 420 would provide that system.

We are not among those who object to medical marijuana ID cards. If
you are a legitimate medical marijuana user, an ID card can only help
protect you from arrest and loss of your medicine.

As he faces a recall election, Gov. Gray Davis may feel signing such a
bill might be politically sensitive. He should put politics aside for
once, and do the right thing.