The War on Drugs should not be a war on people, especially the weakest and sickest people among us. Californians using medical marijuana—legal under state law—need assurances that they will not be treated as lawbreakers by local law enforcement, despite inconsistencies with federal law.

At our April 17 meeting, the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to direct staff to develop a draft policy for the issuance of Medical Marijuana ID card for residents who can prove permission from a doctor or caregiver, mostly for wasting diseases, terminal conditions or harsh cancer treatments.

The vote followed a 2 hour hearing featuring a parade of sufferers of various chronic conditions for which marijuana has provided relief. Rare diseases, AIDS, chemo and radiation therapy patients and those with chronic pain all plead with the Board to create a system allowing them to operate within the law.

District Attorney Tony Rackauckus opposed any county ID cards, reiterating that any use of marijuana violates federal law which he and all local law enforcement authorities are bound to enforce. He did state, however, that as a matter of practice, few users of medical marijuana possessing written permission from a caregiver are ever arrested or prosecuted, even without the cards.

Also testifying was a representative from Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove), stating her commitment to change federal law so as to respect state regulations. The voters of California passed Proposition 215 in 1996, decriminalizing marijuana for medical purposes.

Currently, 33 of California’s 58 counties have approved locally issued medical marijuana ID cards, as is required by California law, passed as Senate Bill 420. Such cards could help law enforcement distinguish between medical and recreational users.

My initial motion failed by a 3-2 vote, with only Moorlach in support. My subsequent motion made it clear that a final vote on such a policy would still be 3 months away and directed staff to gather additional information on the experiences of other counties. After lengthy discussion, that motion passed, with only Supervisor Janet Nguyen opposed.

The OC legal and Health Care Agency staff now have 90 days to devise a draft policy to present to the Board sometime in mid-July.

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors (on which I serve as Vice-Chairman) is facing a job action by our 1,100 coach operators, who yesterday approved a strike by a 900-50 vote. Unlike County government employees, public transit workers may legally strike. Such a walkout would disrupt service for the 200,000 passengers who daily ride our buses, the 12th busiest system in the country.

Represented by the Teamsters Local 952, drivers cite OC’s high cost of living, especially housing. Yet, most of their past demands have focused on pension benefits rather than raises. Surveys with other LA-area transit agencies show our compensation to be competitive, and the OCTA Board has offered a 13% pay and benefit hike over the next 3 years, which we feel is adequate, considering drivers earn as much as $21 per hour.

OCTA Board Chair Carolyn Cavecche has requested a 60 day cooling off period, which can be imposed by the governor to force a delay of any bus service interruption, allowing more time for a settlement.

Meanwhile, the Board of Supervisors remains stalled in our talks with the Association of OC Deputy Sheriffs union (AOCDS). Salary here is not the issue. Our Board wants a full audit of the $14.3 million allocated to the Medical Trust fund each year and for the deputies to accept the same reforms to retiree medical benefits that all other OC employee groups have accepted. That would reduce our current unfunded liability from $598 million down to $421 million.

On April 18, I participated in a disaster drill, anticipating a meltdown and radiation leak at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The exercise was directed out of the 30,000 square foot operations Emergency Operations Center (EOC) high in the foothills above Irvine Lake, and involved 229 people representing over 30 county departments and other governmental agencies.

Seated at the head of a long table at the Command Center room, we issued emergency declarations, press releases and directed the closure of schools and highways in anticipation of a radiation threat. The entire exercise lasted 6 hours and was closely scrutinized by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) observers, who gave the County high marks, along with areas of suggested improvements.

Grand Jury Association of OC Seeks Measure M Oversight Committee Members: Applications must be received by May 1, 2007 . For more information, call the GJAOC ’s Citizen Oversight Committee Selection Panel at (714) 970-9329. Please mail application to: GJAOC ’s Measure M Oversight Committee Selection Panel, P.O. Box 1154 , Yorba Linda, CA 92885-1154. The application can also be completed online at www.octa.net/coc