Pubdate: Tue, 23 Mar 2010
Source: Los Angeles Daily News (CA)
Copyright: 2010 Los Angeles Newspaper Group
Contact: http://www.dailynews.com/writealetter
Website: http://www.dailynews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/246
Author: Rick Orlov
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

CITY PANELS PUSH $1,600 POT CLINIC FEE

MARIJUANA: Groups move to codify new applicant  regulations for L.A. 
dispensaries.

Moving to finalize regulations governing medical  marijuana clinics, 
two city panels recommended Tuesday  that applicants be charged fees 
totaling nearly $1,600.

The proposals adopted by the City Council's Planning  and Land Use 
Management and Budget and Finance  committees require applicants to 
secure LAPD clearance  and approvals from several city agencies.

The proposed application fees include $151 for a police  background 
check, $324 for City Clerk approvals and  $688 for Department of 
Building and Safety permits, and  about $500 for miscellaneous fees.

The report also asked for a study on whether a tax can  be imposed on 
the 134 clinics that will be allowed to  operate in Los Angeles.

Councilman Bill Rosendahl also said he wants  information on the 
timing of notices that will be sent  to hundreds of clinics slated 
for closure because they  are located too close to schools, parks, 
churches and  residential neighborhoods.

Don Duncan of Americans for Safe Access, said clinic  operators 
support a fee schedule but are concerned that  the city's recently 
passed restrictions make it too  easy to disqualify applicants.

Attorney Wayne Avrashaw, who represents several  collectives, urged 
the city to create a working group  of operators to help develop the 
final program.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom