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on their own can still have access to mari- juana by joining together with other quali- fied patients to form a collective. Orebic also notes that the law allows for those involved to "receive reimbursement for services rendered in supplying the patient with medical marijuana." WHY PATIENTS NEED CONVENIENT DISPENSARIES While some patients with long-term illnesses or injuries have the time, space, and skill to cultivate their own cannabis, the majority in the state, particularly those in urban settings, do not have the ability to provide for them- selves. For those patients, dispensaries are the only option for safe and legal access. This is all the more true for those individuals who are suffering from a sudden, acute injury or illness. Many of the most serious and debilitating injuries and illnesses require immediate relief. A cancer patient, for instance, who has just begun chemotherapy will typically need immediate access for help with nausea, which is why a Harvard study found that 45% of oncologists were already recommending cannabis to their patients, even before it had been made legal in any state. It is unreason- able to exclude those patients most in need simply because they are incapable of garden- ing or cannot wait months for relief. WHAT COMMUNITIES ARE DOING TO HELP PATIENTS Many communities in California have recog- nized the essential service that dispensaries provide and have either tacitly allowed their creation or, more recently, created ordinances or regulations for their operation. Dispensary regulation is one way in which the city can exert local control over the policy issue and ensure the needs of patients and the commu- nity at large are being met. As of August 2006, twenty-six cities and seven counties have enacted regulations, and many more are considering doing so soon. See appendix D.) Officials recognize their duty to implement state laws, even in instances when they may not have previously supported medical cannabis legislation. Duke Martin, mayor pro tem of Ridgecrest said during a city council hearing on their local dispensary ordinance, "it's something that's the law, and I will uphold the law." "Because they are under strict city regulation, there is less likelihood of theft or violence and less opposition from angry neighbors. It is no longer a controversial issue in our city." -Mike Rotkin, Santa Cruz This understanding of civic obligation was echoed at the Ridgecrest hearing by Councilmember Ron Carter, who said, "I want to make sure everything is legitimate and above board. It's legal. It's not something we can stop, but we can have an ordinance of regulations." Similarly, Whittier Planning Commissioner R.D. McDonnell spoke publicly of the benefits of dispensary regulations at a city government hearing. "It provides us with reasonable pro- tections," he said. "But at the same time pro- vides the opportunity for the legitimate operations." Whittier officials discussed the possibility of an outright ban on dispensary operations, but Greg Nordback said, "It was the opinion of our city attorney that you can't ban them; it's against the law. You have to come up with an area they can be in." Whittier passed its dis- pensary ordinance in December 2005. Placerville Police Chief George Nielson com- mented that, "The issue of medical marijuana continues to be somewhat controversial in our community, as I suspect and hear it remains in other California communities. The issue of 'safe access' is important to some and not to others. There was some objection to the dispensary ordinance, but I would say it was a vocal minority on the issue." For more information, see vwvw.AmencansForSafeAccess.ory or contact the ASA office at 1-888-9Z9-4367 or 510-251-1856. 6