Pubdate: Fri, 28 Nov 1997
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Author: Dr. Dennis F. Augustine

Support For Supervisor's Medical Cannabis Plan
I read Supervisor Mike Nevin's recommended plan to distribute
medical marijuana through county-run facilities (Peninsula
Friday, November 21) with mixed feelings.

It is a breath of fresh air compared to Dan Lungren's standard
approach of using his bully pulpit to reshape the entire issue,
putting medical cannabis and marijuana for recreational use in
the same context. For example, I see no heroism in California
drug agents seizing and destroying an ancient medicinal herb that
dates back 4,000 years, never killing a single soul, when it can
be recycled back into our communities for medical use.

The only thing I take some issue with is that legitimate medical
cannabis centers that have worked diligently with law enforcement
and city officials - such as the Santa Clara County Medical
Cannabis Center (SCCMCC) - should receive the proper respect and
recognition for pioneering new ground in a politically hostile
environment. Over 20,000 seriously ill patients have been
serviced by such facilities statewide. Thanks to the dedicated
medical cannabis operators like Peter Baez and Jesse A. Garcia
who founded the SCCMCC - and who are both struggling with
life-threatening illnesses of their own - seriously ill patients
no longer suffer needlessly waiting for legislators to decide
when it's politically correct to implement a viable alternative
plan. San Jose and other centers in the Bay Area have a working
model, so why reinvent the wheel?

Nevin's approach to have the county dispense marijuana to people
suffering pain from cancer, AIDS and other diseases through
hospitals and pharmacies is a sound one. Our position has always
been that if medical cannabis were available at your local
pharmacy, we would shut our doors, as our job will have been done.

Dr. Dennis F. Augustine
Santa Clara County Medical Cannabis Center
Medical Director