Tuesday January 7, 2025
SNc Channels:

Search
About Salem-News.com

 

Apr-23-2013 02:19printcomments

Medical Marijuana Patients Become New Targets with DUI Bill

Santa Ana senator wants to bring federal law to bear on California patients through an anti-citizen loophole.

Senator Lou Correa
Senator Lou Correa and his little badge.
Photo: theliberaloc.com

(SACRAMENTO, CA) - On February 14, 2013 Senator Lou Correa of the Santa Ana district in California, introduced a new bill to the senate floor, SB289 which is an act to amend Sections 23152 and 23153 of the vehicle code. This is the Senator's second attempt to get this bill passed.

At first glance when you read SB289 it seems like the usual DUI bill with limits being placed on alcohol levels and so forth, but it's the language found in section (1) paragraph (F) that has medical marijuana patients, doctors, and activists all fired up.

The bill clearly states that it is unlawful for a person to drive a vehicle if his or her blood contains any detectable amount of a drug classified in Schedule I, II, III, or IV under the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and Safety Code), unless the drug was consumed in accordance with a valid prescription issued to the person by a licensed health care practitioner. Herein lies the problem, although medical marijuana in its raw form is recommended by a licensed health care practitioner, it is not an FDA certified drug and therefore not prescribed through a pharmacy like most narcotics. Also since marijuana is currently a Schedule 1 drug, it is encompassed and patients are at risk, if this bill passes the senate committee for public safety which will be reviewing it.

During an interview with Ron Mullins an event organizer/reporter/activist with the newly formed Sacramento NORML chapter, Ron stated that he feared patients who where driving to their jobs would become targets when officers looking for impaired drivers could test them for any amount of marijuana in their systems. Since the chances of patients using their medicine the night before work was highly likely, they would undoubtedly have detectable amounts in their system despite not being impaired whatsoever.

This stance has been echoed by others in the community and now you tube videos and news medias are being asked to take part exposing this tactical anti medical marijuana agenda sprouted by Senator Correa.

Can you image using your medicine when needed during the week, driving while not impaired but because trace amounts were detected, you could now loose your license and worst yet our job?

It almost seems ridiculous that these types of blatant attacks on medical marijuana patients would even be proposed at all.

The real question is why isn't Senator Correa fighting gangs,rapes,and thefts by imposing harsh criminal sanctions and bills supporting stiffer penalties for real criminals in his own district?

Instead Senator Correa is attempting to make mountains out of molehills, by seeking out new ways to punish and condemn people using medical marijuana.

In a search of the crime statistics for Santa Ana and the district of Senator Correa, you are more likely to be a victim of violent crime with 1,313 violent crimes last year and a whopping 287 crimes per square mile, it rated at a higher percentile for crime than the entire State of California.

As for Senator Correa and his record for reform and fighting the criminal element in his own backyard? There was not a single bill or piece of legislation on his 2013 sheet to signal he is working hard to stop any of it.

With no anti crime or increased penalty bills, his work seems bumbling and varies from bills that distinguish what is outdoor advertising, internet gambling, and a recycling mattress bill.

His top priority on the front page of his website www.sd34.senate.ca.gov points to is SJR 8 which passed off the Senate Floor with 32 “aye” votes in support and 0 dissenting votes and now awaits further action in the Assembly. This veiled attempt at so called "immigration reform" is nothing more than allowing current illegal immigrants to receive a path to citizenship despite their illegal entry into the United States. In another blunder Senator Correa snubbed our constitution blatantly with election bill SB 26 which he proposed April 11, 2013. This time he pushed a highly unconstitutional election related bill which would enact the unusual requirement that campaign disclosures on some but not all election mail be printed as many as four times more than currently required, and he didn't seem to get that the Fair Political Practices Commission already has a statute it is enforcing to solve this. It almost seems that the he just throws out bills to the Senate floor mamby pamby, just to see what will stick?

Now Senator Correa seems to be set on meddling into the affairs of legal medical marijuana patients. Senator Correa instead should read the constitution of our State, fix his own districts crime rates, and rethink his stance on making criminals out of medical marijuana patients trying to live their lives in peace.

______________________________________________________

Eric Salerno is a Salem-News.com writer from Butte County, California. His background is with State and Federal Agencies assisting in recovery efforts in disaster stricken states.

In 2008 he began advocating for medical marijuana in his home state. This journey began after the supervisors in his district of Butte County enacted a moratorium on legal Prop. 215 patients rights to access and grow their own medicine. He was one of only 10 people to show up at the meeting and voice his concerns with their actions.

That year a coalition of mores than 300 residents was formed and a Vote NO on measure A campaign began. These residents of Butte County united to stop the interference of the county.

This campaign was successful with a large voter drive initiative and media campaign securing 55% of the voters saying NO on measure A.

Today Eric works endlessly from Southern California to Northern California advising and implementing political tactics, to ensure every Californian has the right to access legal safe medicine under the law.

You can write to Eric at this address: Ericsalerno@sbcglobal.net




Comments Leave a comment on this story.
Name:

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.



Mert Erel June 25, 2013 11:12 am (Pacific time)

It's important to notate this guy belongs to the DEMOCRATIC party. Thank You.


Rorschach April 30, 2013 4:34 am (Pacific time)

Seriously... I lost a close friend to a female driver who was an ommp patient and she was high. I don't want to be on the road driving like "Alex" and get hit head on by someone high on their omm meds! This bill needs some adjusting but I will support it.

[Return to Top]
©2025 Salem-News.com. All opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Salem-News.com.


Articles for April 22, 2013 | Articles for April 23, 2013 | Articles for April 24, 2013
Annual Hemp Festival & Event Calendar

Click here for all of William's articles and letters.

Sean Flynn was a photojournalist in Vietnam, taken captive in 1970 in Cambodia and never seen again.

The NAACP of the Willamette Valley

Support
Salem-News.com:

Special Section: Truth telling news about marijuana related issues and events.