MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARDS ARE PROMPTING A PROLIFERATION OF DRUG USE. PART TWO Many law enforcement officers are of the opinion that it takes nothing more than a hang nail and a willing physician to obtain a California medical marijuana card. With the virtual explosion on the Internet of clinics that provide medical marijuana cards to patients, that’s apparently true.

The number one Web site listed following a Google search for “medical marijuana cards online” is Clinic420.com. That site boasts of, “100% private evaluations, free and easy prequalification, and best prices and service in California.”

The last two statements on the Clinic420.com site state, “Free and easy evaluation to get your medical marijuana prescriptions, and easy access locations throughout Southern California and Fresno.”

Almost all of search sites have multiple facilities, and they are primarily operated throughout Southern California, but are spreading north at a rapid pace.

The GAZETTE sent emails to two different clinics requesting prequalification evaluations. Neither were answered, presumably because the reply address (mariposagazette.com) identified the GAZETTE as a newspaper. Those emails were followed up with telephone calls to the listed toll freenumbers, and both of those attempts to schedule an appointment were met with disconnects.

That growth has local law enforcement more than a little concerned with the related abuses.

Mariposa County Sheriff Brian Muller said, “It’s very frustrating. Some doctors will prescribe for anything and everything, and the courts will rule that if the doctor says ‘Joe Blow’ should have 200 plants, then he should have 200 plants.

“I don’t think the president’s directive has really impacted the growers,” Muller said. “I do think it will somewhat empower those individuals who want to grow for profit since there is less fear of the federal government. Under the law, a co-op is supposed to be a not-for-profit venture.”

Last March, the Obama administration issued a directive saying “the administration would effectively end the Bush administration’s frequent raids on distributors of medical marijuana.”

“Personally I suspect that the Mexican drug cartel is already deeply embedded in a lot of these co-ops and dispensaries. They’re not going to risk losing millions,” Muller said.

“If these propositions make it legal, then all you are doing is creating a black market for the cartel. They are still going to make their money,” Muller added.

Proponents of the current proposition believe that legalizing marijuana will prove to be a windfall of tax dollars to counties and municipalities.

Opponents disagree. They stand on the logic that if marijuana is made legal, regulated and taxed, it will drive drug traffic to the cheaper source on the street corner, operated by the drug cartels, not to the dispensary or pharmacy.

Since it takes a physician’s prescription to receive a medical marijuana card, those seeking one must see a doctor for an evaluation. In Mariposa County, none of the doctors associated with the John C. Fremont Healthcare District are offering that service.

Chuck Bill, CEO of the district, said he’s “not aware of any” physicians under the healthcare district umbrella who are prescribing the cards. “The hospital does not have a formal policy, since each provider has their own license and practice patterns,” Bill said.

Dr. Joe Rogers, medical director of the Mariposa-based John C. Fremont Medical Clinic said, “We won’t do them. That’s not something we promote. It’s bad medicine in my personal opinion, and we don’t do that here.”

Larry Ferriera, manager of the clinic, who was in law enforcement for 22 years, seven of those on a narcotics task force, echoed Rogers’ denial. Ferriera said, “That’s not something I personally agree with. The judges used to hate to see me coming.”

The other medical clinic located in Mariposa did not respond to questions related to providing medical marijuana cards, or referrals for the same. Dr. Robert Rose, the primary physician and operator of Mariposa Family Medicine, did not return calls to the

GAZETTE to confirm or deny participation.

Possibly the most visible abuse of the current law is possession by juveniles. The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Department is reporting an increase in incidents where students are found in possession of marijuana at school.

“We’ve had several incidents at the high school and middle school with kids bringing marijuana to the campus,” said Muller. “More than likely mom and dad have a prescription and their either buying it or growing their own. The kids take a small amount, and the parents don’t miss it. Mom and dad aren’t weighing it and monitoring it. I think the chance for that to reach epidemic proportions is great.”

Another side effect of the current law is the increase in home invasion and theft of private marijuana stashes and grows. Recently a Mariposa couple reported an alleged home invasion robbery where four pounds of marijuana that was supposed to be bound for a dispensary was stolen. The

GAZETTE has reported multiple cases where law enforcement was informed of stolen marijuana plants.