Council OKs smoking pot in WAMM tent (temporarily lifted a smoking ban)

[The Straight Story]

Council OKs smoking pot in WAMM tent
By GENEVIEVE BOOKWALTER - SENTINEL STAFF WRITER
Article Launched: 09/23/2008 06:47:32 PM PDT

SANTA CRUZ - Medical marijuana patients will once again be allowed to smoke dope in San Lorenzo Park this Saturday, after city leaders temporarily lifted a smoking ban to allow for a festival celebrating the medicinal herb.

The decision came after testimony from more than 20 patients who reasoned and pleaded with the Santa Cruz City Council to allow them to inhale their medication while partaking in Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana's annual WAMMfest. Some accused council members of growing old and more conservative, while others said Santa Cruz was losing both its compassion and its weirdness.

"Do not Carmel-ize Santa Cruz," said Valerie Corral, co-founder of WAMM.

The catch, however, is that the ban was not lifted for the entire park. Instead, those with a medical marijuana identification card only will be allowed to smoke inside a tent designated for that purpose.

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_10539431