Pubdate: Tue, 24 Mar 2009
Source: Bakersfield Californian, The (CA)
Copyright: 2009 The Bakersfield Californian
Contact:  http://www.bakersfield.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/36
Author: James Burger
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

COUNTY ENDS REGULATION OF MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

Kern County supervisors repealed an ordinance Tuesday that limited 
and controlled the number of medical marijuana dispensaries that 
could open here in Kern County.

The split vote, with Supervisor Mike Maggard objecting, followed a 
long question session with county attorney John Irby, who has tracked 
the legal fate of California's controversial marijuana law.

Irby said the dispensaries the board is familiar with -- six were 
allowed under county ordinance -- won't come back.

He said the dispensaries are now clearly illegal under guidelines set 
by California Attorney General Jerry Brown.

It isn't a place where the public can come and buy the medicine," Irby said.

Sheriff Donny Youngblood said he's gotten messages from people saying 
they plan to reopen dispensaries.

I want to make sure they are clear," Youngblood said. "Dispensaries 
are illegal. You're going to go to jail."

Under the guidelines, Irby said, medical marijuana patients can 
obtain pot only from a growing collective they are a member of or 
from a direct caregiver.

Supervisor Mike Maggard said he's worried "cooperatives" that grow 
pot for their members could grow massive amounts of pot, creating a 
security problem for neighborhoods.

Irby said large cooperatives create a greater risk that illegal sales 
would happen and the cooperative would be shut down.

By nature those cooperatives would remain smaller, Irby said.

Supervisor Michael Rubio said Irby's presentation creates more 
concern than comfort for him.

"It's going to tax law enforcement now to track down a lot of these 
issues," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom