MEDICAL MARIJUANA: Sacramento Bee Says Oakland Policy Won’t Stand Up

      In a recent editorial, the Sacramento Bee contends that the City of Oakland's efforts to skirt federal drug laws in support of distributing marijuana to "seriously ill patients" probably won't stand. Seeking to "exploit an apparent loophole" in federal law, Oakland officials have designated the "principals of the city's cannabis clubs as 'officers' of the city, so that they may legally dispense medical marijuana." But the Bee argues that this approach "likely will go up in smoke in either one of two fashions -- either before the courts or before an anti-drug Congress that would quickly close any loophole if one is found to exist." The editorial goes on to state that the "flawed" Proposition 215, which legalized medical marijuana use in the state, "has achieved some good." For example, the Bee notes that the proposition prompted important research into medicinal marijuana. "And Oakland's cannabis strategy, although likely to be brief, will help determine if a government-sanctioned dispensary can act any more responsible than San Francisco cannabis clubs, which used to operate more as pot parties than as the caregivers voters intended," the editorial concludes (8/23). Click Oakland to read about the city's medical marijuana policy.