Pubdate: Thu, 26 Jan 2012
Source: Bakersfield Californian, The (CA)
Copyright: 2012 The Bakersfield Californian
Contact:  http://www.bakersfield.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/36

POT COLLECTIVES FILE CLAIM OVER COUNTY ORDINANCES

Medical marijuana collective owners have filed a claim against the 
county of Kern for tens of thousands of dollars, plus attorney's 
fees, tied to two county ordinances passed by the Board of 
Supervisors to close their nonprofit businesses down and restrict the 
amount of marijuana they can grow under state law.

The claim was filed last week by Bakersfield attorney Phil Ganong on 
behalf of a list of individuals and the Kern County Medicinal 
Collective and Green Coast Cooperative.

The claim alleges that the supervisors' action "violates the rights 
of qualified patients to cultivate cannabis for medicinal use" and 
"violates the rights of qualified patients to associate for purposes 
of collectively or cooperatively cultivating cannabis" under state law.

Claim documents indicate that they are requesting $25,000 in 
statutory penalties and unspecified general damages in excess of $10,000.

County supervisors have argued the ordinances are allowed by law and 
needed to fight the criminal activity that they say surrounds 
collectives and cooperatives.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom