Pubdate: Thu, 02 Feb 2006
Source: North County Times (Escondido, CA)
Copyright: 2006 North County Times
Contact:  http://www.nctimes.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1080
Note: Gives LTE priority to North San Diego County and Southwest 
Riverside County residents
Author: Bill Horn,  
http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/cnty/bos/sup5/
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n000/a014.html

LAWSUIT IS NOT CHEAP POLITICAL THEATER

North County Times columnist Jim Trageser's Jan. 26 column "Term
limits likely to be voter's response to pot lawsuit" misses the point.

The county of San Diego's lawsuit is intended to have a federal court
render judgment on the state mandating the county to do something that
violates federal law. The state has ordered us to issue identification
cards that let people buy and use marijuana. That violates federal
drug laws and opens residents of San Diego County to arrest. The
Supreme Court in Gonzales v. Raich ruled the federal government has
the power to arrest and prosecute patients and their suppliers, even
if marijuana use is permitted under state law.

Federal agents recently raided 13 San Diego-area marijuana
dispensaries in one of the largest crackdowns of its kind in
California. The message is clear; the feds will be enforcing the ban
on marijuana.

The county's lawsuit (recently supported by San Bernardino County
Supervisors) is not "cheap political theater#" or "grandstanding." It
is a matter of the law.

As for the threat of having term limits on the ballot, voters already
have that choice. Every election they have the right to choose whom
they want to be in office.

Bill Horn

Chairman

Fifth District Supervisor

San Diego
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake