The bad news is Santa Cruz County government appears to have its own medical marijuana pot shop problem.
The good news is the county won't have to look too far to find a solution -- the city of Santa Cruz has already figured out how to deal with the unregulated proliferation of storefront operations selling marijuana.
Last week, the Sentinel reported that a Soquel entrepreneur, Chris Morganelli, has applied for a use permit from the county, to set up a legal medical marijuana dispensary.
But he was turned down -- because, according to county regulations, the marijuana shops aren't technically allowed in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County, even though several are open for business.
Morganelli, for instance, already has been making medical marijuana deliveries to a clientele from a small office in Soquel. Now, he wants to expand the operation to a storefront somewhere in the county -- and says he could sue if officials don't give him permission.
John Leopold, the county supervisor who represents the area where Morganelli wants to dispense marijuana says he wants to make sure medical pot is available to those who need it, but rules are needed to limit where the shops can be located, as well as how many are allowed.
County government faces a problem experienced around the state, where the burgeoning medical marijuana movement, approved by voters, has led to an often unregulated expansion of dispensaries.
According to the Sentinel report, a handful of unregulated medical marijuana dispensaries have opened in the unincorporated areas of the county, including a storefront operation on 41st Avenue across from Home Depot. Other marijuana shops operate as delivery services.
The city of Santa Cruz faced just such a dilemma and decided to limit the number of medical pot shops in the city to two.
The county is going to have move quickly to set up regulations that keep dispensaries away from schools and residential neighborhoods.
One reason why is because of an undercurrent of illegality that has become attached to medical pot.
For instance, last month Sheriff's deputies seized 25 pounds of processed marijuana, hundreds of pot plants, five guns and nearly $2,000 cash in a raid on four locations in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties. Two San Jose men were arrested and a third is wanted in connection with the large-scale commercial growing and selling operation, which detectives believe was selling the drug to medical marijuana dispensaries and clubs.
Santa Cruz, long tolerant of marijuana use, is not the only city grappling with how to regulate pot clubs at a time of increasing local concern about drug- and gang-related violence. San Jose and Los Angeles have had to limit proliferating dispensaries. Hollister has banned the shops, and Monterey has a moratorium until new regulations are worked out.
As communities are grappling with how to regulate medical marijuana, voters will be asked in November to legalize marijuana for all California adults.
While many cash-strapped local governments are hungrily eyeing the potential revenue from taxing pot sales, we have to wonder if regulating legalized marijuana will prove as elusive as it has for medical pot dispensaries.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel
Copyright: 2010 Santa Cruz Sentinel
The good news is the county won't have to look too far to find a solution -- the city of Santa Cruz has already figured out how to deal with the unregulated proliferation of storefront operations selling marijuana.
Last week, the Sentinel reported that a Soquel entrepreneur, Chris Morganelli, has applied for a use permit from the county, to set up a legal medical marijuana dispensary.
But he was turned down -- because, according to county regulations, the marijuana shops aren't technically allowed in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County, even though several are open for business.
Morganelli, for instance, already has been making medical marijuana deliveries to a clientele from a small office in Soquel. Now, he wants to expand the operation to a storefront somewhere in the county -- and says he could sue if officials don't give him permission.
John Leopold, the county supervisor who represents the area where Morganelli wants to dispense marijuana says he wants to make sure medical pot is available to those who need it, but rules are needed to limit where the shops can be located, as well as how many are allowed.
County government faces a problem experienced around the state, where the burgeoning medical marijuana movement, approved by voters, has led to an often unregulated expansion of dispensaries.
According to the Sentinel report, a handful of unregulated medical marijuana dispensaries have opened in the unincorporated areas of the county, including a storefront operation on 41st Avenue across from Home Depot. Other marijuana shops operate as delivery services.
The city of Santa Cruz faced just such a dilemma and decided to limit the number of medical pot shops in the city to two.
The county is going to have move quickly to set up regulations that keep dispensaries away from schools and residential neighborhoods.
One reason why is because of an undercurrent of illegality that has become attached to medical pot.
For instance, last month Sheriff's deputies seized 25 pounds of processed marijuana, hundreds of pot plants, five guns and nearly $2,000 cash in a raid on four locations in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties. Two San Jose men were arrested and a third is wanted in connection with the large-scale commercial growing and selling operation, which detectives believe was selling the drug to medical marijuana dispensaries and clubs.
Santa Cruz, long tolerant of marijuana use, is not the only city grappling with how to regulate pot clubs at a time of increasing local concern about drug- and gang-related violence. San Jose and Los Angeles have had to limit proliferating dispensaries. Hollister has banned the shops, and Monterey has a moratorium until new regulations are worked out.
As communities are grappling with how to regulate medical marijuana, voters will be asked in November to legalize marijuana for all California adults.
While many cash-strapped local governments are hungrily eyeing the potential revenue from taxing pot sales, we have to wonder if regulating legalized marijuana will prove as elusive as it has for medical pot dispensaries.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel
Copyright: 2010 Santa Cruz Sentinel
