Fairfield: Medical pot plan goes before county board on Tue

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Fairfield Daily Republic
Medical pot plan goes before county board
By Ben Antonius

FAIRFIELD - County supervisors will have marijuana on their minds on Tuesday.

Medical marijuana activists have recently been asking the county to join the state's
medical marijuana program, which allows people to possess marijuana if they have
authorization from a doctor. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors will hear a report
from health officials on what such an program would mean for the county.

Medical marijuana users and supporters are coming to the meeting from across the
state in hopes of persuading the board to adopt an identification card program, said
Linda Jimenez, chairwoman of the advocacy group The Compassionate Coalition.

People would apply for the ID cards after receiving a prescription from a licensed
physician.

Supervisor Barbara Kondylis supports the medical use of marijuana and would back
such a program if it came to a vote, she said.

"I have had too many friends who have gone through chemo and some who eventually
died (and) without the use of marijuana I don't think their quality of life would
have been anywhere near where it was," she said.

Medical marijuana advocates have had a regular presence at supervisors meetings for
months but this is the first time the subject has been on the agenda. An ID card
program would prevent participants from being arrested for possession of marijuana,
Jimenez said. But she said admitted some authorities may still believe advocates are
trying to legalize the drug altogether.

"(The government) won't be able to arrest people who have a card because they're the
ones who issued it," she said. "They need to understand that this is not a scam.
This is not legalization."

Although state law permits medical marijuana use, federal law does not. Some
California counties have gone to court, using that discrepancy to argue they should
not have to issue licenses.

Supervisor Mike Reagan wants he wanted to make a decision after legal wrangling
between the state and counties protesting the program is settled, he said.

"I don't plan to take any action," he added.

Reach Ben Antonius at 427-6977 or bantonius [at] dailyrepublic.net.

At a glance

Who: Solano County Board of Supervisors

What: Regular meeting with a discussion about a possible medical marijuana program
in Solano County.

When: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday

Where: Board of Supervisors Chambers, 675 Texas St.

Info: 784-6100