Chris Morganelli makes marijuana deliveries to sick people from a small office in Soquel. Business has been brisk, he says, and he's looking to expand his venture, the Capitola Healing Association, to a storefront somewhere close by.
But that hasn't been easy. Tuesday when Morganelli tried to get a use permit from the county to open a new shop, something his prospective landlord requires before renting to him. He was denied an application because pot dispensaries aren't technically allowed in the county's unincorporated areas - even though several are in operation and officials have done nothing to stop them.
"I'm paying taxes, I have my (business) permit and I'm being denied due process," said Morganelli, who is now threatening a lawsuit against the county. "I should be allowed to do this legitimately."
Morganelli is among many caught in the cross hairs of a county policy that doesn't appear to make much sense. While planners have said medical marijuana dispensaries are not a "permitted use," they also allow them to do business, barring any major health or safety problems.
At least one county supervisor, though, says it's time to address the contradiction, especially as more people, like Morganelli, seek to get into the business or expand their operations here.
"This is medicine and we want to make sure it's accessible to people," said Supervisor John Leopold. "(But) we need to have some order to this, rather than chaos. Unless you set up some rules, it's a Wild West situation."
Leopold said he doesn't know what form new regulations would take, only that he hopes to begin re-examining the current policy in the next few months. The rules, he said, could include limiting where dispensaries are located, capping how many there are and requiring them to operate as nonprofits.
Other communities across the state are also having to address the marijuana issue as the number of dispensaries rises. California law, per voter-approved Proposition 215, allows medical marijuana shops to operate, but it's vague on what accommodations, if any, local governments must make for them.
The city of Santa Cruz is the only place in Santa Cruz County that currently allows pot dispensaries - city officials have capped operations at two facilities. But as county officials have turned a blind eye on the trade, a handful of shops have opened in the unincorporated areas, from Soquel to Boulder Creek, and others operate as delivery services.
The latest storefront is Granny Purps, which opened last month on 41st Avenue, across from Home Depot.
"There's a lot of people my age (60s) who are looking for a safe place to access marijuana," said Nancy Black, aka. Granny Purps and co-founder of the new dispensary, which offers a range of pot products from cookies to lotions.
Like the other local shops, Granny Purps strives to operate under recommendations offered by the state Attorney General's Office, to assure a safe and low-impact business.
"We're trying to be a very positive part of the community," Black said.
Though Leopold said he hopes to have a new policy in place soon, he and other county officials warn that dispensaries are currently not allowed under county regulations.
"Anybody who goes out right now and opens a dispensary is placing themself at some risk," Leopold said.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: San Jose Mercury News
Author: Kurtis Alexander
Copyright: 2010 San Jose Mercury News
But that hasn't been easy. Tuesday when Morganelli tried to get a use permit from the county to open a new shop, something his prospective landlord requires before renting to him. He was denied an application because pot dispensaries aren't technically allowed in the county's unincorporated areas - even though several are in operation and officials have done nothing to stop them.
"I'm paying taxes, I have my (business) permit and I'm being denied due process," said Morganelli, who is now threatening a lawsuit against the county. "I should be allowed to do this legitimately."
Morganelli is among many caught in the cross hairs of a county policy that doesn't appear to make much sense. While planners have said medical marijuana dispensaries are not a "permitted use," they also allow them to do business, barring any major health or safety problems.
At least one county supervisor, though, says it's time to address the contradiction, especially as more people, like Morganelli, seek to get into the business or expand their operations here.
"This is medicine and we want to make sure it's accessible to people," said Supervisor John Leopold. "(But) we need to have some order to this, rather than chaos. Unless you set up some rules, it's a Wild West situation."
Leopold said he doesn't know what form new regulations would take, only that he hopes to begin re-examining the current policy in the next few months. The rules, he said, could include limiting where dispensaries are located, capping how many there are and requiring them to operate as nonprofits.
Other communities across the state are also having to address the marijuana issue as the number of dispensaries rises. California law, per voter-approved Proposition 215, allows medical marijuana shops to operate, but it's vague on what accommodations, if any, local governments must make for them.
The city of Santa Cruz is the only place in Santa Cruz County that currently allows pot dispensaries - city officials have capped operations at two facilities. But as county officials have turned a blind eye on the trade, a handful of shops have opened in the unincorporated areas, from Soquel to Boulder Creek, and others operate as delivery services.
The latest storefront is Granny Purps, which opened last month on 41st Avenue, across from Home Depot.
"There's a lot of people my age (60s) who are looking for a safe place to access marijuana," said Nancy Black, aka. Granny Purps and co-founder of the new dispensary, which offers a range of pot products from cookies to lotions.
Like the other local shops, Granny Purps strives to operate under recommendations offered by the state Attorney General's Office, to assure a safe and low-impact business.
"We're trying to be a very positive part of the community," Black said.
Though Leopold said he hopes to have a new policy in place soon, he and other county officials warn that dispensaries are currently not allowed under county regulations.
"Anybody who goes out right now and opens a dispensary is placing themself at some risk," Leopold said.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: San Jose Mercury News
Author: Kurtis Alexander
Copyright: 2010 San Jose Mercury News
