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Medical Marijuana News Update
The Coalition
for Medical Marijuana includes:
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Officials In Santa Cruz Vote To Establish City Marijuana DepartmentThe city of Santa Cruz, CA, took a major step toward helping patients deal with getting access to sufficient amounts of medical cannabis in Oct. 2005. The San Jose Mercury News reported on Oct. 26, 2005 ( "City OKs Medical Marijuana Dept.") that "In a move that divided the city's famously left-leaning politicians, the Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday voted to create a city department to distribute medicinal marijuana. If it eventually comes into being -- something that is doubtful at this point -- the Office of Compassionate Use would become the first such municipal office in the country." According to the Mercury News, "The vote marks the latest salvo by the council in a long-running battle over medicinal pot. Three years ago, the council allowed medicinal marijuana to be given away on the steps of City Hall as journalists from around the world recorded the moment. This time, however, council members didn't seem to be thumbing their noses at U.S. drug laws. The council made clear Tuesday it had no intention to establish the office unless it wins a legal fight with federal officials in a court of law. 'I am excited, and I applaud the city council for its creativity and bold decision to put the issue squarely before the courts in a way that is not reckless,' said Allen Hopper, senior staff attorney with the Drug Law Reform Project, a national project of the American Civil Liberties Union based in Santa Cruz." The Mercury News noted that "Hopper said the fact that a city would be willing to actually distribute medicinal marijuana could lead to a legal showdown over the meaning of the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as it applies to medicinal pot. The amendment reads: 'The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.' Earlier this month, a divided Mountain View City Council voted to study the mechanics and legalities of making the city's drug stores medicinal marijuana dispensaries. Along the same lines, Santa Cruz council members indicated Tuesday they'd like to see drug stores such as Walgreens distribute the marijuana if the municipal Office of Compassionate Use is eventually set up."
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