Pubdate: Wed, 01 Sep 2010
Source: Record Searchlight (Redding, CA)
Copyright: 2010 Record Searchlight
Contact:  http://www.redding.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/360
Author: Janet O'Neill
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

TEHAMA EXTENDS DISPENSARY BAN

RED BLUFF - Tehama County's controversial ban on medical marijuana 
dispensaries will continue another year, after county supervisors on 
Tuesday voted 4-1 for an extension.

"I think this stands in the door of patients getting their rights," 
said Supervisor Charlie Willard in his dissent. He noted it had been 
nearly a year since the moratorium - which he opposed - was first 
passed and questioned whether another 12 months would yield a viable 
replacement.

Over two hours about a half-dozen medical marijuana patients, some 
repeatedly, approached the podium in defense of safe access. They 
included Ken Prather, who owns the 2,500-member Tehama Herbal 
Collective in Corning.

Among other things, he accused the board of ignoring Attorney General 
Jerry Brown's 2008 guidelines for collectives and cooperatives.

"I don't understand why you folks aren't being more compassionate," 
he told supervisors.

Donna Will, a medical marijuana patient and grower, made an emotional 
plea on behalf of those who have benefited from pot when other 
medicines proved harmful.

"Safe access for sick people is what this is about," she said. She 
also accused supervisors of dragging their feet.

"You guys have had over a year and done nothing," she said.

First adopted Sept. 15, the interim urgency ordinance was renewed 
after 45 days. It was due to expire Sept. 14.

In November, the board held a study session in which Assistant County 
Counsel Arthur Wylene offered up an exhaustive list of options for 
regulating dispensaries, with more than 70 bullet points culled from 
other jurisdictions and court cases.

"Staff did not sit back and do nothing," Wylene said. But litigation 
over medical marijuana continues "all over the state," he added, 
advising the board a long-awaited appellate ruling Aug. 18 in a case 
against the city of Anaheim failed to resolve the dispensary question.

He said the county has been monitoring other agencies in an effort to 
determine what's working and what isn't.

The yearlong extension approved Tuesday is the last allowed under state law.

No dispensaries currently operate in unincorporated Tehama County. 
Red Bluff Patient Collective closed late last year after Sheriff Clay 
Parker issued daily citations for more than a month alleging 
violation of the ban and zoning rules.

Prather faces a court trial in Corning later this month on alleged 
zoning infractions related to his collective, he said after the meeting.
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