Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Kern County supervisors repealed an ordinance Tuesday that limited and controlled the number of medical marijuana dispensaries that could open here in Kern County.
The split vote, with Supervisor Mike Maggard objecting, followed a long question session with county attorney John Irby, who has tracked the legal fate of California's controversial marijuana law.
Irby said the dispensaries the board is familiar with -- six were allowed under county ordinance -- won't come back.
He said the dispensaries are now clearly illegal under guidelines set by California Attorney General Jerry Brown.
It isn't a place where the public can come and buy the medicine," Irby said.
Sheriff Donny Youngblood said he's gotten messages from people saying they plan to reopen dispensaries.
I want to make sure they are clear," Youngblood said. "Dispensaries are illegal. You're going to go to jail."
Under the guidelines, Irby said, medical marijuana patients can obtain pot only from a growing collective they are a member of or from a direct caregiver.
Supervisor Mike Maggard said he's worried "cooperatives" that grow pot for their members could grow massive amounts of pot, creating a security problem for neighborhoods.
Irby said large cooperatives create a greater risk that illegal sales would happen and the cooperative would be shut down.
By nature those cooperatives would remain smaller, Irby said.
Supervisor Michael Rubio said Irby's presentation creates more concern than comfort for him.
"It's going to tax law enforcement now to track down a lot of these issues," he said.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Bakersfield Californian, The (CA)
Copyright: 2009 The Bakersfield Californian
Contact: opinion@bakersfield.com
Website: Home | Bakersfield.com - Kern County news, events, shopping & search
Author: James Burger
The split vote, with Supervisor Mike Maggard objecting, followed a long question session with county attorney John Irby, who has tracked the legal fate of California's controversial marijuana law.
Irby said the dispensaries the board is familiar with -- six were allowed under county ordinance -- won't come back.
He said the dispensaries are now clearly illegal under guidelines set by California Attorney General Jerry Brown.
It isn't a place where the public can come and buy the medicine," Irby said.
Sheriff Donny Youngblood said he's gotten messages from people saying they plan to reopen dispensaries.
I want to make sure they are clear," Youngblood said. "Dispensaries are illegal. You're going to go to jail."
Under the guidelines, Irby said, medical marijuana patients can obtain pot only from a growing collective they are a member of or from a direct caregiver.
Supervisor Mike Maggard said he's worried "cooperatives" that grow pot for their members could grow massive amounts of pot, creating a security problem for neighborhoods.
Irby said large cooperatives create a greater risk that illegal sales would happen and the cooperative would be shut down.
By nature those cooperatives would remain smaller, Irby said.
Supervisor Michael Rubio said Irby's presentation creates more concern than comfort for him.
"It's going to tax law enforcement now to track down a lot of these issues," he said.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Bakersfield Californian, The (CA)
Copyright: 2009 The Bakersfield Californian
Contact: opinion@bakersfield.com
Website: Home | Bakersfield.com - Kern County news, events, shopping & search
Author: James Burger
