Pubdate: Wed, 16 Apr 2008
Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)
Copyright: 2008 The Press Democrat
Contact:  http://www.pressdemo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/348
Author: Mike Geniella
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

DOCTORS BACK INCREASED POT RESTRICTIONS

UKIAH -- Leading Mendocino County physicians Tuesday endorsed a local 
ballot measure to sharply limit marijuana cultivation, calling 
current county guidelines "fraudulent."

Some of the best-known doctors in the Ukiah Valley joined three dozen 
others in the medical community to endorse Measure B. If passed in 
the upcoming June primary, the initiative would impose new local 
restrictions on the amount of pot individuals may grow and use.

Among the signers were Dr. Frederick Burris, Dr. Don Coursey, Dr. 
Thomas Kilkinney, Dr. Bernard Lemke, Dr. Harry Matossian, Dr. Jon 
Portnoff, Dr. Vincent Valente, Dr. Jens Vinding, and Dr. Marvin 
Trotter, the county's public health officer.

"The medical community is very unhappy with the fraudulent misuse of 
the compassionate medical marijuana program as a front for rampant 
commercial growing," said Dr. Robert Werra.

Under Proposition 215, passed statewide in 1996, and subsequent state 
law, an individual is protected from state prosecution if he has a 
physician's recommendation and if the amount in his possession is 
within local guidelines.

State law set a medical marijuana limit of six mature marijuana 
plants plus  1/2 pound of dried marijuana. But the legislation allows 
individual counties to adopt higher limits.

In 2000, Mendocino voters approved a measure allowing an individual 
to grow up to 25 plants for personal use, without regard to medical 
reasons. The measure also directed local law enforcement authorities 
to make marijuana prosecution the lowest priority.

Medical marijuana advocates are fighting back, contending the current 
public backlash is being fueled by exaggerated claims of profits, 
crime and neighborhood fears.

"Measure B does nothing to stop commercial growers. Instead it makes 
criminals out of residents with small, personal-use gardens," said 
Laura Hamburg, campaign coordinator for the No On Measure B campaign.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom