The mayor's office is expected to make the draft order public this week. Medical marijuana became legal in the District after Congress chose not to override the D.C. Council's law within the 30 days allowed by home rule.

Proponents of medical marijuana wonder what's taking so long.

"This seems like a really long time, and I don't know why they wouldn't have already done this," said Jeffrey Kahn, a rabbi who hopes to open a medical marijuana dispensary near the Takoma Metro station.

Until agency regulations come out in 2011 and dispensaries are allowed to open, marijuana will be illegal, even for those with qualifying medical conditions.

"The administration is committed to ensuring the regulations will support clear and safe dispensing of marijuana for medicinal purposes," Fenty spokeswoman Mafara Hobson said, declining further comment.

The mayor's draft document, dated July 23, grants authority to the Health Department to create ID cards for marijuana patients and administer the policy by which low-income patients will receive discounted marijuana. It also leaves it up to the agency to define "any other condition" that would qualify patients for the drug.

Kahn was also concerned that the mayor's orders are too vague.

"There has to be a really careful process put in place, but I think this document is really lacking details as to the process," he said.

The Health Department will oversee registration of patients and caregivers; the ABCB will register dispensaries and cultivation centers; the police will enforce criminal provisions and help the ABCB in assessing dispensaries' security plans.

The draft also calls for creating a seven-member Medical Advisory Committee that will monitor progress of the medical marijuana program and report to the D.C. Council.

Source: Washington Examiner (DC)

Author: Liz Essley, Examiner Staff Writer

Published: August 2, 2010

Copyright: 2010 Washington Examiner

Contact: threads@dcexaminer.com

URL: http://drugsense.org/url/ges3jtUN

Website: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/

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