it's still all about respecting medications and respecting the fact that a prescribed medication is safe for that particular individual, for that particular time, for that particular ailment. and then after that point in time, it's no longer safe anymore. so that's what we need to reinforce to the parents, and that message needs to come across, all the way across the board. if we get that message out to parents, they will also understand that applies to the senior population, that it applies to, you know, our very young population. it's the same message, no matter what. we've talked a lot about the problem. i want to start now a little bit diving into some of the solutions. and dr. krantz, particularly with the older americans, and please note to let us know when one becomes older so that people can self-identify because we are quite the young generation of older americans that we're facing. i know i'll never start-stop using jeans or thinking that i'm older for heaven sakes. but indeed, i am. and so i want you to address that issue. what do the seniors need to be particularly cognizant

, very, very potent medications. in what instances might they, might they face an encounter with these? well, overall in the country, we are seeing, have seen for the last couple of decades, a dramatic increase in prescriptions for controlled substances, stimulants and opiate analgesics, and cns depressants, and so we do-have had this whole culture change. i agree very much that we treat medications differently, and that has a double-edged sword. it's good and bad that people are not afraid to take medications that can be lifesaving. at the same time, are we sending the wrong message? so, with the increase in prescriptions that we've seen, young people, for example, we see more prescriptions for opiate analgesics related to dental care for young people. and that's their first experience, usually, with an opiate analgesic when they have some kind of root canal or extraction, usually with their molar extraction procedures. also, stimulants are a big issue, for- appropriately prescribed for attention deficit disorder, b

well, if you're taking a medication you need to know about that medication. but certainly you would have demonstrated a responsibility in maintaining that medication in a safe and secure environment so that it would not be child accessible, for example. but also, i think we all have an obligation to be informed about what some of the issues are and to get involved so that our image is not distorted by others so that we're representing ourselves. just for an example, the press typically perpetuates the image of methadone patients as selling medication or using, you know, nodding out on the street. and we want to be able to say that there are many, hundreds of thousands of patients or tens of thousands of patients, who are really doing very well in treatment and who have been able to sustain recovery, and have professional business lives and families, but who really can't afford to have their faces plastered on the news and really can't afford to come forward. and we need to find ways to advocate and remember that there are other populations who are doing excee

it's a medication. it's combined with other treatment resources to holistically respond to an individual patient's needs. and the whole mark of treatment when it's effectively administered tends to these broad range of the needs of the individual patient. it is effective and it is safe when it's in the hands of knowledgeable practitioners. i think, an important thing that mark points out is that you need an array of interventions, but you need practitioners who know what they're doing. but such a similar thing can be said for diabetes, for hypertension, cholesterol, for cardiovascular conditions, for almost any medical condition where medication is employed. the medication plays a critical role in the treatment of the disease, but you need other things to help address the condition when you see that, in terms of adherence, compliance, and a healthy lifestyle. well jane, recently we have heard in the news that there is a higher incidence of deaths attributed to methadone. is that the full picture? no. wh

i was one of the sponsors of the 1982 medical marijuana initiative. i wanted to butt in a historic note. the first time the citizens of san francisco voted for consult vation of marijuana was in november 1972 when 54% supported the california medical marijuana initiative. our vote has gone up every time we have had an opportunity to vote on it in san francisco. we have now come to the time that we are finally, after more than 30 years of being interested in having cultivation and marijuana in san francisco, we are finally working out the actual politics of doing that. i applaud you, commissioners. i applaud you and everyone who has been working on this for a long time. what we need is, first of all, something i said in 1972, what we want is free legal back yard marijuana, which is the right of every person to grow their own in their own small states without violating city codes. secondly, please do not go the oakland route. we need the diversity and the different qualities that individuals grow and when they have some excess, they put it on the market

no other prescription medication in california pays a sales tax whereas medical canibus does mple i hope the commission will be mindful of that when wremming polings. thank you. [applause] president marshall: if there are no more speakers, then this item is closed. go right ahead. >> i didn't have to take these pills this month. i was able to make food. canibus is a medicine, and i can't lose it.

i was one of the sponsors of the 1982 medical marijuana initiative. i wanted to butt in a historic note. the first time the citizens of san francisco voted for consult vation of marijuana was in november 1972 when

regarding the medication issue, although lauras law does not allow some medication, medication can be included as part of a court-ordered treatment plan, which experience shows in other counties in new york, the patients more than likely agree to take their medication. if a person refuses to comply with any of the terms of the treatment plan, including taking medication, if that is part of the plan ordered by the court, then the treatment team may try to persuade the patient to comply. if that fails, the statute permits the person to be involuntarily hospitalized for 72 hours. during this 72 hours in a hospital, they will be reassessed, and a hearing will determine whether they have the capacity to accept medication korean regarding that is designed for -- to accept medication. regarding prop 63, whether a person has a voluntary or involuntary status. this means that a consumer or a client under court supervision may not be prevented from receiving services funded by prop 63 because of a status related to a court order. this has allowed nevada county to design a particular kind of pro

i was one of the sponsors of the 1982 medical marijuana initiative. i wanted to butt in a historic note. the first time the citizens of san francisco voted for consult vation of marijuana was in november 1972 when 54% supported the california medical marijuana initiative. our vote has gone up every time we have had an opportunity to vote on it in san francisco. we have now come to the time that we are finally, after more than 30 years of being interested in having cultivation and marijuana in san francisco, we are finally working out the actual politics of doing that.

we do not know whether they will claim a medical marijuana defense or not. some of these are out right grow operations. nevertheless, this is what we are seeing. commissioner dejesus: as you go forward, tell me if it is a known compassion and gardeners or a different photoperiod that would help me keep this clear. >> the back of your book gives you a little more information on some of the illegal gardens we are going to be seeing, a little more information on that. i think there are a couple more gardens mentioned on the final pages of your power point where no police action was taken. i will continue. finally, the last picture slide has to do with ventilation. basically, there are voters and there are ventilation systems installed in a lot of these grows, ventilating it, through a lot of houses using the pipes. all four of these pictures are illegal grows where we have taken police action. the one on the lower right corner, they are bending its through the fireplace at a rental home. -- that are venting it to the fireplace at a rental home. some of the weap

we are like medics on the battlefield. would be grateful not to get shot at what we carry on our duties. the patience need assistance and suffered greatly when asset seizures occur. who gets hurt? the elderly and infirm do. chemotherapy patients do. the victims of aids wasting syndrome do. i do not think that any of these people had -- these people need problems artificially introduced into their lives. who else gets hurt? i am 30 years old. i obtained a bachelor's degree from stanford university. i am honest even at risk to myself. i am loved by my community and family. i am tired of my little sister being scared for my safety. there are a lot of people like me in this community that ought to be recognized as assets to their community. what is the solution? the commander is right that we need a formal permitting process. he is also right that it is not going to happen immediately. we need immediate relief, and nothing but a little bit of policy change is preventing that. there are two issues that are threats to public saf

i know the federal law outlaws medical cannabis. there cannot be any training under the federal law, i am assuming. i'm want to know -- what kind of training is our narcotics unit in particular getting regarding medical cannabis state law, the san francisco statutory provisions for medical cannabis, and the lowest priority. do we have a class? how long is the class? who teaches the class? what kind of things are they learning? for a narcotics union, do we have documentation they have the training before they are sent to the narcotics unit? >> you asked a number of questions. first of all, we are currently rebuilding our narcotics unit. we sent down about 10 officers recently. all 10 of those officers went through the 80 hour state narcotics investigators course. i believe there is a good section there on marijuana. commissioner dejesus: do you know how long that is? >> i am not sure. i can get that for you in a couple of minutes. with respect to the kelly decision and the guidelines, as i mentioned earlier, 8 ounces is a guideline.

he is readmitted every time after he stopped his medication. his office medications for a week. the paranoia returns. -- his office medications for we. the paranoia and aggression returns. he is brought back into the emergency room. unfortunately, his last hospitalization which began last month, and jason became very angry, paranoid, and assaulted two of our nursing staff. one of the nursing staff suffered a concussion and is out on disability. now jason is in jail charged with felony battery. with a wonderful system at pes, we can look at how much a patient costs over time. the treatment for jason costs $250,000. for what? it was a failed treatment. he is now in jail. his wife and the lives of people who tried to help him have been adversely affected. -- his life and the lives of those who tried to help them have been adversely affected. now jason is in jail. what are the consequences? that is the sound of more money going down the drain. [laughter] once jason interested criminal justice system or county jail -- once jason intereenters the cril justice system or county jail, th

only if the hearing officer does not recognize the stopping medication led to the relapse ken medicationbe given in voluntarily. if they're worried that this will mean delays in treatment for many people of mental illness. laura's law is a giant step in the right direction. the people that i have talked to here that our family members were known to me because they have been here during the budget process. i believe that many of them felt that the answers to their family member's needs were in the jail and that is not where it should be. this is an opportunity to create an avenue for individuals not to be in our jails so that they can receive treatment. they should not be in jails in our justice system. >> any further discussion, colleagues? supervisor alioto-pier: given the feeling of the head of our own health department, we need to work through some of the details in more detail. i am sure you are always open to more conversations on this. colleagues, perhaps we can send this back to committee, where we can work through some of the comments that have been made here today and we could c

i know the federal law outlaws medical cannabis. there cannot be any training under the federal law, i am assuming. i'm want to know -- what kind

back to medical privacy, medical records, how they are affected by changes in technology and by the rules governing them in washington. greenbrier, arkansas. caller: thank you very much. i am a vietnam veteran that is going through the va. the problem i have always had, maybe you can explain it, what is the big deal of someone's medical record becoming public? could you go down a small list of problems that people can get into with their medical records becoming public, at least available for people -- if they are that nosy to see your medical records, what can they gain from that? guest: it is a good question and there are several answers, of course. medical information can be used by employers in hiring, promotions, in improper ways. people can be stigmatized by their community if medical information is disclosed. i think people have a general sense with personal medical information, it is just no one else's business. people should not have to fill the need to justify medical privacy. part of it is when a person goes to a doctor seeking good medical advice, they want to be open and fort

we are talking about medical can ibus, we're talking about compassionate growers. i really want inform know what state training is, if it has anything to do with what the hours are. i want to know what the officers in general are getting, but in particular what the narcotics officers are getting, because i think everyone should know what the state law is and everyone should know how to respond to medical canibus. and i think they should also be brought into the 21st century technology. if department people are going to call it dope and marijuana and not recognize it as medical canibus, i want to recognize that. that is one thing we can work on for the future. [applause] the second thing, terminology is really important. also, our office, sanctuary policy, san francisco kind of law, i think it is really important. i'd love to see how you continue to meet with the group and see what the registry -- how the registry comes about, hopefully if it comes about, what's going on with the registry. one other thing, the education and volunteer. and the safety issues. if it is