Pubdate: Tue, 23 Dec 2008
Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)
Copyright: 2008 The Sacramento Bee
Contact:  http://www.sacbee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/376
Author: Joseph Burch
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n1131/a09.html
Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority

TAXPAYERS DODGE COSTLY LAWSUIT

Re "Supervisors vote to issue medical marijuana IDs," Dec. 15: It's a
relief that our county supervisors finally decided to obey the
long-standing law that requires them to implement an ID card program
for medical marijuana users. Not only will law-abiding patients be
able to live without fear of false arrest, taxpayers will not be
forced to pay for a costly lawsuit that would result from
noncompliance.

Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan's comment that she wouldn't follow state
law until a court orders her to is outrageous. The state's Supreme
Court has in fact ruled that counties must implement this program, and
Sacramento's top attorney advised MacGlashan and other supervisors
that failure to follow the law would result in a lawsuit they couldn't
win.

Any official who suggests that public funds be wasted on a lawsuit
that is universally considered unwinnable during the biggest financial
meltdown in our state's history should not be allowed to continue
serving in a public office. Her disdain for voters and taxpayers is
unprecedented.

Sacramento needs leadership, not stubborn ideologues.

Joseph Burch

Citrus Heights
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin