SB to issue MMJ cards

By Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/21/2009 09:30:33 PM PDT


The county's Public Health Department has put together a proposal for a medical marijuana identification card program in terms of costs and hours of operation.

Proposed fees for the identification cards are $166 per card for caregivers and non-Medi-Cal patients and $83 per card for Medi-Cal patients.

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors will hear the proposal during a public hearing. It will come back to the board on July 14 for adoption.

The board Tuesday also will consider adopting an "urgency interim ordinance" that would place a temporary moratorium on the issuance of permits for medical marijuana dispensaries until the county can formulate development code provisions and design standards for dispensaries.

On May 18, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from San Bernardino and San Diego counties, which argued that the federal law outlawing marijuana possession and use under any circumstance pre-empted California's Compassionate Use Act, which allows for the possession, cultivation, transport and use of marijuana per a physician's recommendation.

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision ended a three-year legal battle to thwart the identification card programs in San Bernardino and San Diego counties.

Still, those desiring to obtain identification cards in San Bernardino County may still find themselves waiting. Finishing touches need to be put on a pending lawsuit involving the county and a Crestline man, Scott Bledsoe, who sued the county in January over its refusal to implement an identification card program.

"Part of the problem is the person who initiated the lawsuit against the county has not signed off on the (settlement) agreement," said Burt Southard, spokesman for board chairman Gary Ovitt. "Until Bledsoe signs off on the agreement, very little is going to be going forward."

He said county officials have repeatedly tried contacting Bledsoe in the last month, but haven't been successful.

Reached by telephone Friday, Bledsoe said he spoke via telephone with Matt Brown, chief of staff for 2nd District Supervisor Paul Biane, on Thursday.

Bledsoe, 37, said he subsequently called his attorney, who informed him he hadn't heard from Brown or any other county officials.

He said he's going to err on the side of caution.

"We probably don't want to give up the litigation until the county does what it's supposed to be doing," Bledsoe said. "The only thing we're asking them to do is comply with state law."

If approved, the county Department of Public Health would operate the identification card program six hours a day Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Hours of operation would be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a one-hour break for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.

The health department expects to serve about 250 to 300 patients and caregivers a year. Those wanting to pick up an application can do so by dropping by the department's main office at 351 N. Mountain View Ave. in San Bernardino.

Patients will have to reapply for their cards every year.

The program is expected to cost the county about $30,000 for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

Forty-eight counties in California have implemented medical marijuana identification card programs, and the state has distributed about 30,000 cards in those counties, according to the state.

joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com


http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_12660876

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