Jacob Bell
New Member
On Tuesday the Lake County Board of Supervisors will hear a request asking for the ban of retail, storefront medical marijuana dispensaries. The request is being made by a steering committee comprised of local business people and members of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
"We are asking for a ban on the retail, storefront dispensaries," Melissa Fulton, CEO of Lake County Chamber of Commerce, said. "However, we support patients having access to medical marijuana."
Ron Green, a Lake County attorney said on Friday, "No appellate court has ruled on whether outright bans are legal. Most bans have been before any dispensaries opened ... so never got litigated by dispensaries. In Lake County, the dispensaries have existed for about a decade now, long before the board started looking at the issue. The board gave tacit approval by refusing to ban them and by passing and renewing a moratorium, which allows the existing dispensaries to continue operating. A ban by Lake County would surely lead to extensive litigation."
District Attorney Don Anderson is against a ban of dispensaries.
"I think it's a bad idea for the patients who use them, whether they call them dispensaries, cooperatives or collectives; it's a bad idea regardless of what name they use. It gives the patients a place that allows them to get their medical marijuana in a clean environment rather than getting it from someone on the street," Anderson said. "It can be a financial
Advertisement
Quantcast
benefit for the county if done right. Usually, the co-ops, collectives and dispensaries will pay taxes but the criminal on the street pays no taxes."
Steering committee member, Attorney Peter Windrem said, "We want the Board of Supervisors to ban storefront medical marijuana dispensaries while making provisions for the seriously ill people in Lake County who need medical marijuana."
Windrem said that 12 California counties have banned, 14 counties have placed moratoriums, 145 cities have banned and 102 cities have moratoriums on dispensaries. More cities are adopting bans almost weekly and more counties are considering bans. He said other counties have seen increased criminal activity and dispensaries serving as fronts for criminal organizations. He said he is afraid that would come to pass in Lake County.
Ed Robey, who served as a Lake County Supervisor for 12 years, said those who are requesting the ban are doing so out of "fear and ignorance." Robey said the dispensaries simply need to be regulated.
"The intelligent and responsible course of action is to regulate it," Robey said. He compares the requested ban to the prohibition-era thinking. He said a ban would open the county up to lawsuits.
"I don't want my tax money wasted on lawsuits we'll lose."
Additionally, Robey said the people who are using medical marijuana have a right to do so under California law.
Robey drafted an ordinance as a model to work from and gave it to the Board of Supervisors in 2010. Robey will speak at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting.
Katherine Brewer, owner of Good Karma Growers in Lucerne, said her experience has been a positive one at the location. She said when she first opened the dispensary in 2008, neighbors were not receptive, but she says now they have a good rapport. She said she supports the concept of regulation.
Lakeport's city zoning ordinance does not list medical marijuana dispensaries. There are no medical marijuana dispensaries within the city limits.
"The zoning ordinance does not permit medical marijuana dispensaries, therefore we do not allow them under our current zoning code," Richard Knoll, Lakeport Community Development Director said.
There are currently 12 dispensaries in Lake County in unincorporated areas.
The issue regarding the dispensaries will be discussed at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Lake County Courthouse in the Board of Supervisors Chambers located at 255 N. Forbes St. Lakeport.
News Hawk- GuitarMan313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: record-bee.com
Author: Mandy Feder
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Lake County Record-Bee
Website: Board to discuss medical marijuana dispensaries
"We are asking for a ban on the retail, storefront dispensaries," Melissa Fulton, CEO of Lake County Chamber of Commerce, said. "However, we support patients having access to medical marijuana."
Ron Green, a Lake County attorney said on Friday, "No appellate court has ruled on whether outright bans are legal. Most bans have been before any dispensaries opened ... so never got litigated by dispensaries. In Lake County, the dispensaries have existed for about a decade now, long before the board started looking at the issue. The board gave tacit approval by refusing to ban them and by passing and renewing a moratorium, which allows the existing dispensaries to continue operating. A ban by Lake County would surely lead to extensive litigation."
District Attorney Don Anderson is against a ban of dispensaries.
"I think it's a bad idea for the patients who use them, whether they call them dispensaries, cooperatives or collectives; it's a bad idea regardless of what name they use. It gives the patients a place that allows them to get their medical marijuana in a clean environment rather than getting it from someone on the street," Anderson said. "It can be a financial
Advertisement
Quantcast
benefit for the county if done right. Usually, the co-ops, collectives and dispensaries will pay taxes but the criminal on the street pays no taxes."
Steering committee member, Attorney Peter Windrem said, "We want the Board of Supervisors to ban storefront medical marijuana dispensaries while making provisions for the seriously ill people in Lake County who need medical marijuana."
Windrem said that 12 California counties have banned, 14 counties have placed moratoriums, 145 cities have banned and 102 cities have moratoriums on dispensaries. More cities are adopting bans almost weekly and more counties are considering bans. He said other counties have seen increased criminal activity and dispensaries serving as fronts for criminal organizations. He said he is afraid that would come to pass in Lake County.
Ed Robey, who served as a Lake County Supervisor for 12 years, said those who are requesting the ban are doing so out of "fear and ignorance." Robey said the dispensaries simply need to be regulated.
"The intelligent and responsible course of action is to regulate it," Robey said. He compares the requested ban to the prohibition-era thinking. He said a ban would open the county up to lawsuits.
"I don't want my tax money wasted on lawsuits we'll lose."
Additionally, Robey said the people who are using medical marijuana have a right to do so under California law.
Robey drafted an ordinance as a model to work from and gave it to the Board of Supervisors in 2010. Robey will speak at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting.
Katherine Brewer, owner of Good Karma Growers in Lucerne, said her experience has been a positive one at the location. She said when she first opened the dispensary in 2008, neighbors were not receptive, but she says now they have a good rapport. She said she supports the concept of regulation.
Lakeport's city zoning ordinance does not list medical marijuana dispensaries. There are no medical marijuana dispensaries within the city limits.
"The zoning ordinance does not permit medical marijuana dispensaries, therefore we do not allow them under our current zoning code," Richard Knoll, Lakeport Community Development Director said.
There are currently 12 dispensaries in Lake County in unincorporated areas.
The issue regarding the dispensaries will be discussed at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Lake County Courthouse in the Board of Supervisors Chambers located at 255 N. Forbes St. Lakeport.
News Hawk- GuitarMan313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: record-bee.com
Author: Mandy Feder
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Lake County Record-Bee
Website: Board to discuss medical marijuana dispensaries
