Pubdate: Fri, 16 May 2014
Source: Albany Democrat-Herald (OR)
Copyright: 2014 Lee Enterprises
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/HPOp5PfB
Website: http://www.democratherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/7
Author: Jennifer Moody

STATE OKS BROWNSVILLE POT DISPENSARY, BUT CITY HAS 1-YEAR MORATORIUM

BROWNSVILLE - The state has approved the application from a
Brownsville couple to open a medical marijuana dispensary.

Now, say Randy and Gayle Simpson, all they have to do is wait for the
city's moratorium to expire.

State approval of seven applications as of May 9 brings the total
number of approved dispensaries to 86. They may open for business as
soon as they receive their registration certificates in the mail,
which the Simpsons have.

However, Brownsville city councilors voted March 25 to impose a
one-year moratorium on the opening of any medical marijuana
dispensaries. So for now, Randy said, Gayle will just continue to use
the former bank building at 333 N. Main St. for her eBay sales business.

"When they (councilors) see there isn't any crime or adverse public
problems in cities that have allowed medical marijuana to be dispensed
to cardholders, I'm pretty sure they'll lift the ban," Randy said in
an email to the Democrat-Herald. "Local sick and/or hurting Oregon
Medical Marijuana Program cardholders shouldn't have to drive to
another city for their meds."

To receive state approval for Green Cross Dispensary, the Simpsons had
to comply with 28 pages of rules and submit photo documentation of,
among other things, burglar alarm sensors, video security camera
positions, video alarm notifications and battery backup systems.

"I spent a few hours with video security tech support a couple of
weeks ago, trying to get the video alarm notification working, and
finally got it right," Randy said. "Now, if anything abnormal happens
with any of the 10 cameras or anything else related to the video
security system, I get an instant notification alert, one of the
dispensary requirements."

The Simpsons' state certificate expires next May, the same month the
moratorium drops.

The Brownsville City Council is considering forming a committee that
would look at other communities in Oregon with open dispensaries and
what issues have arisen, if any, with their presence. City
Administrator Scott McDowell said this idea hasn't yet been decided,
however, nor has a formal direction been determined.

The couple say their hope is councilors will choose to lift
Brownsville's moratorium early if indications are that crime rates
don't rise in areas with dispensaries. However, even if the city holds
to a full year, the Simpsons' application can be renewed, Gayle said.
Renewals are due a month before they are set to expire.

The Simpsons say they are also donating small amounts of medical
marijuana to OMMP cardholders who are in need of medication while the
moratorium is in effect.
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MAP posted-by: Matt