Jacob Bell
New Member
OAKLAND, Calif.–Oakland City Attorney John Russo has decided he would no longer advise the city council about its plans to license large-scale marijuana farms.
Russo announced the decision–the latest blow to the city's plans to license and tax the farms–in a letter to Mayor Jean Quan and each council member dated Thursday. His office had been working on amendments to the city's proposed pot cultivation ordinance that were scheduled to be discussed over the next few weeks.
He did not say specifically what prompted the move, but cited state professional conduct rules and the council's efforts this week to redraft the pot-farm ordinance to address state and federal law enforcement officials' concerns about its legality.
In July, Oakland became the first city in the country to authorize the licensing of medical marijuana cultivation operations. But the city council in December put the application process for growers' licenses on hold following a warning from the Alameda County district attorney that the ordinance violated state law.
The top federal prosecutor in Northern California said this week that large-scale marijuana farms licensed by the city would violate U.S. law and could lead to a crackdown on growers and their backers.
Russo's office declined to comment on the letter, which was reported by the Oakland Tribune.
Councilwoman Jane Brunner told the newspaper that Russo has an obligation to advise the council. She said any money to hire outside counsel should come from his office's budget.
Councilwoman Desley Brooks has proposed her own amendment to the ordinance seeking to bring the city's cultivation plans into compliance with state law by tying each farm to an individual pot dispensary.
"Nobody is trying to run out and do anything that will get the city in trouble," she said. "We're trying to be thoughtful. Unfortunately, the city attorney's office is not working with us."
News Hawk- GuitarMan313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: mercurynews.com
Author: The Associated Press
Contact: Help
Copyright: San Jose Mercury News
Website: Oakland city attorney: I won't advise on pot plan
Russo announced the decision–the latest blow to the city's plans to license and tax the farms–in a letter to Mayor Jean Quan and each council member dated Thursday. His office had been working on amendments to the city's proposed pot cultivation ordinance that were scheduled to be discussed over the next few weeks.
He did not say specifically what prompted the move, but cited state professional conduct rules and the council's efforts this week to redraft the pot-farm ordinance to address state and federal law enforcement officials' concerns about its legality.
In July, Oakland became the first city in the country to authorize the licensing of medical marijuana cultivation operations. But the city council in December put the application process for growers' licenses on hold following a warning from the Alameda County district attorney that the ordinance violated state law.
The top federal prosecutor in Northern California said this week that large-scale marijuana farms licensed by the city would violate U.S. law and could lead to a crackdown on growers and their backers.
Russo's office declined to comment on the letter, which was reported by the Oakland Tribune.
Councilwoman Jane Brunner told the newspaper that Russo has an obligation to advise the council. She said any money to hire outside counsel should come from his office's budget.
Councilwoman Desley Brooks has proposed her own amendment to the ordinance seeking to bring the city's cultivation plans into compliance with state law by tying each farm to an individual pot dispensary.
"Nobody is trying to run out and do anything that will get the city in trouble," she said. "We're trying to be thoughtful. Unfortunately, the city attorney's office is not working with us."
News Hawk- GuitarMan313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: mercurynews.com
Author: The Associated Press
Contact: Help
Copyright: San Jose Mercury News
Website: Oakland city attorney: I won't advise on pot plan
