Supreme Court Hands Medical Marijuana Major Victory

[BridgeTheGap]

The U.S. Supreme Court handed medical marijuana patients and advocates a resounding victory on Monday, refusing to hear a case brought by San Diego County, which has long chafed at implementing statewide medical marijuana laws.

The state of California, in an effort to systematize the 1996 voter-approved initiative, required localities to implement identification card programs for patients with doctor approval in 2004. Such ID cards are required to enter medical marijuana shops in California and can be shown to police officers who find patients in possession of marijuana.

San Diego County, however, argued that the federal ban on marijuana trumps the state law, meaning they are not required to follow the state law. The county filed suit in 2006. Both the San Diego Superior Court and the Fourth District Court of Appeals rejected the argument, which was followed by the California Supreme Court's refusal to review the case in 2008.

The San Diego Board of Supervisors voted to appeal to the Supreme Court.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/18/supreme-court-hands-medic_n_204681.html

[GodlessBiker]

1. Lookin' good.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UxoGJSZeEYE/SWUGIljCcZI/AAAAAAAAAsk/HvHNZy7uG2Y/s400/13057-big+doobie.jpg

[4_TN_TITANS]

4. Jeez....

That dube would last me a month! One of the few bright spots regarding the economy is that law enforcement is running out of room and money to chase after people smoking plant materials.

[xchrom]

2. so what did these appeals cost the county of san diego? nt

[dmr]

3. It is not the job of local cops to enforce federal laws.

I bet they thought they'd win this case, but at what cost to the taxpayers?

It is not the job, in other words, of local cops or municipalities to enforce federal laws. In fact, the federal government has never made such an argument. The California counties acted on their own.

[backtoblue]

5. good point

that's why we separate powers, so that no government (local, state, or federal) has total control of us.

[flyboyscotty68]

6. we need to win the war

There are people out there that could be cured. This needs to end once and for all. I will be doing my part as soon as I can.