Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Los Angeles Times - April 18, 2007
Christian Berthelsen, christian.berthelsen@latimes.com
The proposal, if adopted, would create a system to issue identification cards to patients eligible to use marijuana, as well as validate prescriptions and monitor the qualifications of medical care providers who dispense the drug.
The supervisors initially voted 3 to 2 to kill the plan, but Supervisor Bill Campbell switched his vote after receiving assurances that county staff would provide more information about the controversial program, including what other counties have done. A final vote is scheduled in about 90 days.
In 1996, California voters passed Proposition 215, which allowed doctors to recommend marijuana to patients to ease pain, nausea and other complications from ailments including cancer and HIV. But the state law conflicts with federal law, which still treats marijuana as a highly addictive, controlled substance with no medical value, and the U.S. has resisted states' efforts to make it more available.
Still, state and county authorities have continued to attempt to regulate its use. A 2004 state law ordered counties to set parameters under which sick Californians could use the drug.
The state's Department of Health Services estimated in 2004 that there were about 16,000 patients in Orange County who would be eligible for the medical marijuana system.
Thirty-two counties have set up a system to regulate medical marijuana; Los Angeles County is expected to launch its version June 1. San Diego County sued the state, contending it was being wrongly forced to violate federal law. A Superior Court judge upheld the law, but San Diego County is appealing.
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