Pubdate: Fri, 23 Dec 2011
Source: Bakersfield Californian, The (CA)
Copyright: 2011 The Bakersfield Californian
Contact:  http://www.bakersfield.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/36

AG HARRIS WISE TO SEEK CLARITY ON MEDICAL POT LAWS

California Attorney General Kamala Harris formally asked the state 
Legislature earlier this week to clarify state laws on medical 
marijuana to bring certainty and consistency to both law enforcement 
and patients. It's about time someone took action on the issue. The 
Legislature needs to take up the request.

Under the state's medical marijuana law, the attorney general is 
authorized to issue guidelines on legality. As attorney general, Gov. 
Jerry Brown essentially made dispensaries legal if they were 
nonprofit cooperatives or collectives. As a result, storefront 
dispensaries boomed -- and the federal government stepped up efforts 
to go after them.

At the local level, Kern County has passed three separate ordinances 
on medical marijuana, including a ban on storefront dispensaries. 
Other municipalities have faced similar dilemmas in regulating the drug.

Harris reportedly considered revising Brown's guidelines but 
determined that any action she could take would lack the force of law 
behind it. That's why she's instead asking the Legislature to 
determine if storefront dispensaries and delivery services that sell 
medical marijuana are legal. It's about time.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom