Pubdate: Sun, 8 Aug 2010
Source: Tribune, The (San Luis Obispo, CA)
Copyright: 2010 The Tribune
Contact:  http://www.sanluisobispo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/391
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/dispensaries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Charles+Lynch

IN SLO COUNTY, DEBATE IS OVER DISPENSARIES

The history of medical marijuana in San Luis Obispo County has been 
characterized by support and opposition to dispensaries.

In 2006, San Luis Obispo County became the 21st in California to 
issue cards to qualified medical marijuana patients and their primary 
caregivers.

In 2007, the Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance allowing 
medical marijuana dispensaries. The ordinance stipulates that 
dispensaries cannot be in a downtown business area or within 1,000 
feet of any school, library, playground, park or youth recreation area.

A dispensary in Morro Bay that opened in 2006 was closed a little 
more than a year later, after sheriff's and federal Drug Enforcement 
Agency officials raided Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers and 
said they found federal and state violations. The operator, Charles 
Lynch, was later given a reduced sentence in a highly watched federal 
court case.

In 2008, county supervisors barred a dispensary planned for 
Templeton, saying it was too close to a playground and did not fit 
with the character of the community. County planning commissioners 
had voted to approve it.

In March, Morro Bay officials voted to move ahead with drafting 
regulations that would allow medical marijuana to be sold in the city.

Later that month, the Atascadero City Council approved a permanent 
ban on medical marijuana dispensaries, though they supported an 
exemption to allow caregivers to deliver to qualified medical 
marijuana patients inside city limits.

Most recently, county planning commissioners voted 3-2 in May to 
block a proposal to add a medical marijuana dispensary to a warehouse 
building in Nipomo. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake