San Diego County Refuses To Implement Medical Marijuana Programs Required by State
San Diego County supervisors on Tuesday voted to refuse to implement a program to issue identification cards and maintain a registry of medical marijuana users, as mandated by the state, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Although only six counties across the state have implemented the program, San Diego is the first to refuse to participate in it.
In 1996, California voters approved Proposition 215, which allows doctors to recommend marijuana to patients to alleviate pain from some medical conditions. The measure also allows patients to grow and transport marijuana. In 2003, the Legislature adopted a law that requires counties to issue identification cards and maintain databases for marijuana users.
County counsel John Sansone said the county probably will be sued soon and it could result in a court order that requires the county to comply with the law. "If your board asks that we challenge it, we would do that. However, it would be a very, very major uphill struggle," Sansone said, addressing the supervisors.
Norma Arceo, spokesperson for the Department of Health Services, said there is no deadline for issuing the cards. "Counties will come on board as they get ready. At this point we have not had any county voting to refuse," she said (Wolf Branscomb, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11/2).