MEDICAL MARIJUANA: Oakland Approves ‘Most Permissive’ Policy In State
The Oakland City Council adopted a medical marijuana policy Tuesday that allows terminally ill patients to keep a three-month supply of cannabis on hand. The policy would direct police not to target or confiscate the marijuana from individuals who meet certain criteria, the San Jose Mercury News reports. According to the policy developed by a committee which included representatives from the city's police, the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative, legal experts, doctors and patients, a three-month supply amounts to "30 outdoor flowering plants, 48 indoor flowering plants, or 1 1/2 pounds of bulk marijuana." Jeff Jones, president of the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative, praised the city's policy to implement Proposition 215. "Oakland has always been on the leading edge on this issue," he said (7/8). The AP/Los Angeles Times reports that Oakland's policy is thought to be the state's " most liberal and permissive" since voters approved Proposition 215. The city's move "def[ies] a limit set" by state Attorney General Dan Lungren of one ounce (7/9). But in an "unusual laissez-faire stance," the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Lungren said yesterday "he has no plans yet to challenge Oakland's policy." Lungren spokesperson Matt Ross called 1 1/2 pounds of marijuana "quite a bit," Lungren will leave enforcement of the policy up to Oakland authorities. "We would just hope that law enforcement would do the right thing when stopping individuals with a pound and a half of marijuana," said Ross (Lee, 7/9).
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