Pubdate: Wed, 02 Apr 2014
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
Copyright: 2014 Las Vegas Review-Journal
Contact: http://www.reviewjournal.com/about/print/press/letterstoeditor.html
Website: http://www.lvrj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/233
Author: Tom Ragan

PROPOSED REGULATIONS SPARK FIRE UNDER PASSIONATE POT DEFENDERS

The Las Vegas business licensing department, led by manager Karen
Duddlesten, came under fire for the second time in as many weeks on
Tuesday for drafting what many called "hypocritical" regulations in
what will be a proposed medical marijuana ordinance in May.

More than 500 people, from patients to future dispensary owners,
filled the council chambers in what was the last in a pair of public
hearings on the 38-page draft proposal. The opinions will be
considered by staff before the blueprint is sent to the City Council
for a vote that could bring 10 medical marijuana dispensaries to town.

A new state law that took effect on Tuesday allows as many as 66
dispensaries to operate in the Silver State, 40 of them in Clark
County. Each major city is entitled to 25 percent, or 10 dispensaries,
which could sell medical marijuana to patients who carry cards.

Although medical marijuana has been legal in the state since 2000, it
took Nevada 14 years to allow dispensaries to operate. Now that a new
law is on the books, the biggest problem is wading through the
regulations.

Some of the controversial clauses in the Las Vegas proposal include
having to employ three security guards on duty at all times in all
facilities, regardless of whether it's a dispensary or a grow house or
a state-certified lab; allowing Las Vegas police full access to any of
the establishments at any time; and only being permitted to grow
marijuana in one-third of the grow house.

"Is this just a way of collecting on more taxes?" asked one member of
the audience.

Major criticisms included that the city has not yet set the cost of a
dispensary license; that only Nevada residents are allowed to open a
dispensary in Las Vegas; and restrictions on marijuana candy or gum.
Marijuana suckers, since medical marijuana was legalized, are very
common.

It was a restriction questioned by Thomas Roland, a chef by trade and
longtime patient because of post-traumatic stress disorder and glaucoma.

"Are you saying that we can only bake a cake and make brownies?" said
Roland, who is thinking about getting into the business and who noted
that marijuana can be used in a variety of food products.

One doctor told the business licensing staff that it should open its
eyes and realize that marijuana is being sold on just about every
street corner in Las Vegas and that the difficulty of breaking through
the red tape will only keep illegal dealers in business.

Cindy Brown, a medical marijuana advocate, said the city, in its
proposed regulations, was being hypocritical, especially given the
city's history of organized crime.

"I think you think you're better than the rest of us because we use
cannabis," said the arthritic-stricken Brown to a round of applause.

Duddlesten began the public hearing by telling the audience, "Please
don't shoot the messenger, for lack of a better term. ... At this time
we are here to simply listen." She said the business licensing staff
was given the task to research the subject, come up with a draft and
send it to the Las Vegas City Council.

"The purpose," she said, "is to integrate these businesses into our
neighborhoods."

At least 50 people spoke, some delivering monologues on the benefits
of medical marijuana.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D