Pubdate: Thu, 29 Nov 2012
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2012 Associated Press
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Page: C3

FEDS SEEK RECORDS ON CANCELED MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM

Federal investigators are demanding records related to a Northern 
California county's medical marijuana permitting program.

Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman said this week that county 
officials received a subpoena in October from the U.S. attorney's 
office in San Francisco.

The records request is connected to the county's now-canceled program 
to authorize certain pot growers to grow as many as 99 plants, 
exceeding the local limit of 25 plants. The permitting process 
garnered more than $800,000 in county fees in its two-year existence.

Applicants paid $1,500 for a permit. They also were responsible for a 
monthly inspection fee of about $500 plus an additional $50 each for 
individually numbered zip ties designed to identify every authorized 
plant. The funds were used by the sheriff's department to monitor the program.

Officials canceled the program in January after the U.S. attorney's 
office threatened legal action.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom