Pubdate: Wed, 13 Feb 2008
Source: Visalia Times-Delta, The (CA)
Copyright: 2008 The Visalia Times-Delta.
Contact:  http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2759
Author: Hillary S. Meeks
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

SUPERVISORS EXTEND BAN ON NEW POT DISPENSARIES

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted  unanimously Tuesday to
extend a moratorium on new  medical marijuana dispensaries.

A recent ordinance was extended until Jan. 5, 2009, or  until a
regulation process is approved by the board.  New regulations likely
would follow a business-license  approach, said George Finney, the
Resource Management  Agency's assistant director for planning.

"I'm proud of  the supervisors," said Rick Morse, special advocate for
  Americans for Safe Access. "They're wanting to make  sure that this
is done right the first time."

A more structured approach to the regulation of  medical-marijuana
dispensaries appealed both to  supervisors and several residents who
attended  Tuesday's public hearing.

Morse said it's better for those wishing to open  dispensaries if
regulations are clear-cut. Melanie  Mendes, operator of a medical
marijuana dispensary in  Tipton, said such regulations would have made
the  opening of her store less confusing.

"I spent three days at the courthouse ... wondering how  do I find out
if what I'm doing is OK," she said.

Mendes' made sure her business didn't break zoning  regulations the
board had previously set, including a  requirement that dispensaries
be located in a  commercial or industrial zone. Other restrictions
prevented them from being established within 1,000 feet  of
sensitive-use areas, which include schools,  child-care facilities,
parks and churches with  children's activities.

Mendes invited the board to take a tour of the  dispensary to see how
it operates.

Lupe Arzola wasn't as successful as Mendes, however.  Arzola's
dispensary, Good Nature, in Pixley has raised  the ire of many Pixley
residents, some of whom spoke  against his business during Tuesday's
hearing.

They claim his business is within 1,000 feet of both a  charter school
and a preschool program.

"We're very anxious to get business in Pixley," said  Louise Rambo,
Pixley Town Council member. "But the  community -- to a person -- does
not want this  dispensary."

She called the current way dispensaries are established  "very poorly
structured." In that, Rambo and Arzola  agree.

"I'm for regulation, if it's going to benefit all the  dispensaries,"
Arzola said.

In other actions, the supervisors:

Approved the registration and certification of the  Tulare County
Professional Firefighters union.

Approved the registration of the Government Lawyer's  Association of
Workers union.
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MAP posted-by: Derek