KTVU Expose on Medical MJ

Oakland May 25. KTVU-TV News broadcast an expose showing how
"obtaining high grade medical marijuana in the Bay Area is as easy as
1-2-3 for just about everyone." While the report focused on the
underside of the MMJ scene, it was not unfair to the medical
marijuana movement.
It began with an interview with Hayward patient advocate Jane
Weirick sitting in her wheelchair. Jane said that she was seriously
concerned that "people who really need medical marijuana are being
inconvenienced by the few who think it's just for fun."
The news team went on to demonstrate how getting marijuana is
"easier than going to the Safeway." They began by scheduling an
appointment at the Medicann clinic in Oakland. A reporter
complaining of an actual knee injury filled out a 5-page form, paid
$100, and walked out with a physician's signature after 3 minutes.
The physician never examined his knee. The news team interviewed
another physician, Dr. Jeffrey Bloom, who expressed the opinion that
the patient should have been examined.
The news team interviewed Dr. Jean Talleyrand, director of
Medicann, who was nonplussed to hear that his colleague hadn't
examined the patient. "I'm not quite sure how the doctors are
operating," he admitted. "I believe that most people have legitimate
reasons."
The news team explained that several cannabis clubs refuse to
accept recommendations from Medicann. However, it went on to say that
high grade cannabis could easily be had elsewhere. The team called
on a "caregiver" delivery service advertised on the internet. They
bought a bag of pot from a young man for $200 at a rendezvous in
Belmont. They interviewed a Belmont police officer who expressed
disapproval, saying this wasn't how the law was supposed to work.
The report went on to allege that the caregiver had a criminal record
with 10 arrests going back to the age of 15.
The report noted that in "many communities" it was legal to
possess up to 3 pounds of marijuana. It illustrated this graphically
by stacking 3 pounds of herbs in baggies before the camera. The
report went on to state inaccurately that in many communities,
patients could designate up to 4 caregivers, each of whom could also
possess 3 pounds of pot.
The report concluded by noting that the news team had donated their
purchased marijuana to a worthy clinic, who in turn donated to a
needy patient.
KTVU's investigation uncovered some ugly truths, but was by no
means unfair. In my opinion, it accurately portrayed both the good
and the seedy side of the medical marijuana scene.
- D. Gieringer
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Dale Gieringer (415) 563-5858 // canorml [at] igc.org
2215-R Market St. #278, San Francisco CA 94114