County Supervisors "Just Say No" to medicinal marijuana ID cards

SAN DIEGO — After a spirited debate, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors recently voted 3-2 to oppose a state mandate that the county set up a system to distribute identification cards to people who use medicinal marijuana.

Federal law bans the cultivation, sale, possession and use of marijuana for any purpose; however, in California, Proposition 215 decriminalizes the use of marijuana and Senate Bill 420 forced counties to issue ID cards.

Vice Chairman and Fifth District Supervisor Bill Horn said approving identification cards would be hypocritical since the board has long opposed the use of marijuana.

“It’s crazy for us to ignore federal drug laws and in good conscience serve and protect the people of San Diego County,” Horn said. “Rosa Parks is lying in state and being honored for opposing a bad law. SB 420 is a bad law. Leadership demands that we oppose it.”

Horn was supported by Second District Supervisor Dianne Jacob and Board Chairwoman and Third District Supervisor Pam Slater-Price in refusing to follow the state’s mandate to begin issuing ID cards in April.