christina peňa at LA independent 9-06-07 front page report about la-weho townhall cannabis update

Patient advocate Richard [Kearns] says medical marijuana has helped him battle AIDS for twenty years. photo by Noam Nitzani

A Marijuana Informational

A meeting aims to inform residents about the status of current cannabis laws

by Christina Peňa

September 6, 2007

In response to a series of DEA raids earlier this year, ten medical marijuana clinics located in West Hollywood and Los Angeles hosted a town hall meeting Aug. 30 at Plummer Park to update residents about the use of medical marijuana and to address the concerns of patients and non-patients.

The evening began with a potluck dinner and gelato-tasting presented by The Medical Marijuana Farmacy, followed with presentations by a [four]-person panel.

According to attorney William Kroger, the first speaker of the night, much of the problem stems from the ambiguity between local, state and federal law.

Since 1970, the controlled stubstance act has classified cannabis as a Schedule I substance, describing it as haing a high potential for abuse and no accepted value in medical treatment. Under federal law, the possession, use, sale or furnishing use of medical cannabis is illegal.

On November 5, 1996, California voters approved proposition 215, known as the compassionate use act. this has allowed seriously ill Californians the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes if it is recommended by a physician. The statute also ensures that primary caregivers and their patients who obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes are not subject to criminal prosecuton.

In addition, West Hollywood has been declared a “sanctuary” for medical marijuana use since the approval of a “lowest law-enforcement priority” resolution in 2001, which calls on sheriff’s deputies to not “tarket adult marijuana users who consume this drug in private and pose no danger to the community.”

“There is state and federal law and people still have a lot of confusion and [users] don’t understand what the differences really are,” said Kroger, who currently is representing patients and dispensaries involved in the recent raids.

Kroger advised that patients should not only be aware of the current laws but also follow them. “Don’t keep your cannabis separated in different baggies,” he said. “Another thing that i see that is a problem is that people have scales on them. When you go to a dispensary you can trust them that they are giving you the ammount that you asked and are paying for. There is no reason to have a scale on you. You don’t want to get caught and charged for sales.”

According to Joanna LaForce, The Farmacy’s chief pharmacist, the solution lies in properly educating patients along with medical professioals and law enforcement. “It’s amazint how many physicians do not want to take a stand on this,” LaForce said. “We have a big challenge ahead of us to let people see the value of what we are doing, so that people have a safe choice for those with Alzheimer’s, AIDS and cancer.”

Before Proposition [215] was passed, LaForce would regularly come across cases in which caregivers in the vulnerable and often dangerous position of seeking out marijuana to treat dying loved ones, sha daid, “I didn’t have any way to tell them how to get it,” LaForce said. “So what was happening is that they ended up on the streets, driving to wierd places, strange cities trying to find cannabis and the problem with that is that you don’t know what you are getting.”

Diagnosed with AIDS 20 years ago, Richard [Kearns] said he would not be alive today if not for the ability to access cannabis for medicinal use. Cannabis alleviates the harsh side-effects such as nausea caused by the intense inti-viral AIDS medication, he said, and helps him maintain an appetite.

According to [Degé Coute, president of the Patient Advocacy Network (PAN)], activism within the community is crucial to not only maintain current patient rights but also to allow greater access.

“The thing that concerns me is that we are dealing with people who aren’t really part of this community and don’t have an understanding of how to use an herbal medicine alternative,” [Coutee] said. “I started PAN as an opportunity to allow patients to get involved on a level that they hadn’t before. Unfortunately this issue is not on Congress’ radar. Our goal is to make patients and advocates be effective on this ussue. . . . It is going to be increasingly important that patients make [their] voices heard so that we don’t lose this.”

For Los Angeles couple Antonio and Dina, the meeting was educational, clarifying the law and updating them on the current legal situation. “There is such a large grey area that you need these updates regularly,” said Antonio, who is a cannabis user.

“It’s very hard to get clear answers to point,” said non-user Dina. “My partner [uses cannabis] for medicinal reasons and i need to know the legalities of it, like if i’m drivinng him to pick up the drug.”

cpena@wavepublication.com