Pubdate: Wed, 23 May 2012
Source: Visalia Times-Delta, The (CA)
Copyright: 2012 The Visalia Times-Delta
Contact: http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2759

COUNTY SEEKS A COURT ORDER TO SHUT DOWN MEDICAL MARIJUANA COLLECTIVE

The county is going to court to shut down a medical marijuana
collective in Cutler.

According to the complaint filed on Monday with Tulare County Superior
Court, Tulare County alleges that the medical marijuana collective
violates county zoning ordinance, which states that marijuana
collectives and cooperatives must be located on land zoned for
commercial or manufacturing use within the unincorporated county. The
collective is located in an agricultural zone.

The complaint also states the collective violates county ordinance by
not being grown "within a secure, locked, and fully enclosed structure."

Supervisor Allen Ishida said medical marijuana operations are a threat
to the public safety of residents.

"Tulare County will not tolerate illegal medical marijuana operations
in our unincorporated areas," Chairman Ishida said. "We will continue
to take the appropriate actions to combat illegal medical marijuana
operations."

This is not the first time Tulare County has sought a court order
against a medical marijuana collective. In August 2011, Tulare County
won a civil injunction against Foothill Growers Association Inc., an
Ivanhoe-based cooperative of about 100 people with doctors'
recommendations to smoke or ingest marijuana to treat symptoms of
health conditions.

The Superior Court found that the Foothill Growers Association
violated an ordinance adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2009,
which states that marijuana collectives and cooperatives must be
located on land zoned for commercial or manufacturing use within the
unincorporated county.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt