Marin County Municipal Code Ch. 6.84 Use of Marijuana for Medical Purposes

The purposes of this chapter are:

(a) To express the compassion of the people of Marin County for those who are ill in our community, and whose sufferings would be alleviated by the use of medical marijuana.

(b) To express the strong support of the people of Marin County for the restoration of cannabis/ marijuana medical preparations to the list of available medicines which can be prescribed by licensed physicians.

(c) To direct Marin County officials, including the district attorney, to take whatever actions may be within their power to support the availability of cannabis/marijuana for medical use.

(Ord. 3109 § 1 (part), 1992)

For the purposes of this chapter, "Cannabis/Marijuana medical preparations" shall mean all products made from cannabis or marijuana, in any form intended or used for human consumption, for the treatment of any disease; the relief of pain; or as an adjunct to any medical procedure for the treatment of cancer, glaucoma, or HIV/AIDS; or for any other medical or healing purpose defined within the bounds of the patient/doctor relationship.

(Ord. 3109 § 1 (part), 1992)

The board of supervisors of the county of Marin make the following observations:

(a) Safe And Effective Medicine. Scientific and medical studies by the National Academy of Science have shown cannabis/marijuana to be a safe and effective medicine with very low toxicity compared to most prescription drugs. It has been shown to be effective in the treatment of glaucoma; clinically diagnosed depression; epilepsy; muscle spasticity; arthritis; the nausea, vomiting and appetite loss associated with chemotherapies.

(b) Doctors And Patients Need The Cannabis/ Marijuana Option. Studies show that one-third of all cancer patients discontinue potentially life-saving chemotherapy due to the severe and debilitating side effects. The same is true for many HIV/AIDS patients receiving AZT or other similar therapies.

(c) United Nations Approves Prescription Marijuana. In May of 1991, the United Nations Narcotic Control Board voted overwhelmingly to reclassify cannabis/marijuana, placing it back on Schedule 2, and making it available by prescription. The United States Representative to this board voted in favor of rescheduling.

(d) Federal Court Orders Prescription Marijuana. Despite a Federal Court Order recognizing the "clearly established medical value" of cannabis/ marijuana, and mandating that it be reclassified to Schedule 2 and available by prescription, the federal government continues to deny access to this safe and effective medicine.

(Ord. 3109 § 1 (part), 1992)

(a) Within ninety days of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the clerk of this board shall transmit the text of this chapter to the President of the United States, the Governor of the State of California, and the Federal and State Legislative Representatives of Marin County and urge them to take whatever actions that may be in their power to:

(1) Restore cannabis/marijuana medical preparations to the list of available medicines which can be prescribed by licensed physicians;

(2) Provide for by law and institute such mechanisms as may be necessary to insure a safe and affordable supply of cannabis/marijuana for medical use.

(b) The board of supervisors shall direct the director of Health and Human Services to monitor developments in the field of cannabis/marijuana medicine, including research projects, trial studies, or current government programs.

(Ord. 3109 § 1 (part), 1992)