Pubdate: Wed, 01 Jun 2005
Source: Pasadena Star-News, The (CA)
Copyright: 2005 Pasadena Star News
Contact: 
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206%257E11852%257E,00.html
Website: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/728
Author: Shirley Hsu, Staff Writer
Cited: Americans for Safe Access http://www.safeaccessnow.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

SUPERVISORS OK MORATORIUM ON NEW POT DISPENSARIES

But Probe Could Exempt Dispensary

County supervisors on Tuesday blocked medical marijuana dispensaries
from opening in unincorporated areas, but that may not stop a Hacienda
Heights dispensary from operating.

The 45-day moratorium only applies to new dispensaries, and the
Hacienda Heights dispensary opened just before Tuesday, said Don
Duncan, a consultant for the dispensary, called California Medical
Caregivers Association.

"They're open and registering members,' he said. "I think this will be
a big benefit to residents of Los Angeles County, and I think people
recognize the need for a place like this,' he said.

Supervisor Don Knabe moved to pass the emergency ordinance after two
groups contacted the county with plans to open dispensaries, one in
Hacienda Heights and the other in Rowland Heights.

The county is investigating whether the Hacienda Heights dispensary
actually is open or not, Knabe said.

Officials who visited the site said it looked closed, and that as of
last week, the dispensary reported no patients, Knabe said.

"I am absolutely outraged,' he said. "If they told us they were
willing to work with us, then rushed to open prior to the moratorium,
that would be disingenuous.'

Prior to Tuesday, the county had no ordinances dealing with
dispensaries in its unincorporated communities. While state law
permits seriously sick patients with cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and other
illnesses to use the drug, it doesn't outline specifics about how to
distribute it. More than 120 dispensaries have opened statewide since
Proposition 215 passed in 1996.

Knabe said he feared that, unregulated, dispensaries could become
magnets for crime and illegal drug dealing and that the region could
"become inundated' with marijuana dispensaries like West Hollywood
has.

The moratorium will buy the county time to create zoning regulations
for dispensaries. The moratorium will buythe county time to create
zoning regulations to make sure dispensaries are not opened near homes
or schools.

"Had we not (passed an ordinance), someone could be up and operating
and we might not even know it,' said Knabe, adding that ideally the
drug should be distributed through pharmacies.

Many Hacienda Heights residents are concerned about the location of
the dispensary next to two schools.

Stephen Lee, principal of Newton Middle School, less than a mile from
the dispensary, said he has "strong reservations and concerns and
questions about the need to have a facility like that in a bedroom
community like Hacienda Heights, where there are lots of young children.'

CMCA organizers said they are willing to address the community's
concerns at the next Hacienda Heights Improvement Association meeting,
to be held at 7 p.m. June 20 at the Hacienda- La Puente Unified School
District board room, 15959 E. Gale Ave., Industry.

People misunderstand the nature of the business, said David Nam,
director of CMCA.

Only members with a doctor's recommendation can access the medication,
and the dispensary will have security guards to make sure patients
follow the rules and don't smoke on site, said Nam, a Rowland Heights
resident.

At least 30 cities and counties statewide have passed moratoriums on
marijuana dispensaries, and four cities have permanently banned
dispensaries, according to Americans for Safe Access, a medical
marijuana advocacy group. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake