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The Board of Supervisors voted to ban medical marijuana dispensaries after top law enforcement officials said the centers could be easy targets for robberies.
The board voted Tuesday to reject a proposal to license four regional dispensaries in unincorporated parts of the county. The decision comes nearly 10 months after the county issued photo identification cards in an effort to comply with a 1996 state law shielding medicinal users from federal prosecution.
The board also voted to outlaw marijuana-growing cooperatives.
Supervisors said they were influenced by District Attorney Grover Trask who suggested the outlets would attract crime.
"It's very hard to go against our district attorney. He is a very responsible man and he's stepped up to the plate and provided leadership here," said Supervisor Marion Ashley.
Riverside County will join San Diego and San Bernardino counties in a lawsuit that aims to overturn the state law requiring counties to issue medical marijuana cards. The counties argue that the federal prohibition of marijuana use takes precedence.
The hearing, which drew about 80 people, were divided about having medical marijuana centers.
"It's so easy for kids to get marijuana these days, and I don't think we should make it any easier," said Nancy Faulstich, 51, a mother of three from Rancho Mirage.
Medical marijuana supporters, however, believed that the supervisors made a bad decision.
"They're pushing everyone out onto the streets," said Nathan Archer, 38, of San Diego, who said he started using marijuana medically seven years ago for chronic pain following a construction accident. "They've said in there they're going to arrest us, but for what? For trying not to suffer?"
In 1996, California voters approved Proposition 215, legalizing the drug for therapeutic use. In 2003, state legislation was approved allowing counties to issue identification cards to medical users to protect them from prosecution by local law enforcement.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that federal authorities could still seize and destroy marijuana stashes and arrest growers and consumers even in the 11 states that allow medical marijuana use.
Federal law prohibits any marijuana use.
NewsHawk: _qWERTY - 420 Magazine
Source: The Mercury News
Pubdate: 27 September, 2006
Copyright: 2006 The Mercury News
Contact: letters@mercurynews.com.
Website: MercuryNews.com : Bay Area news, technology, jobs, cars & real estate
The board voted Tuesday to reject a proposal to license four regional dispensaries in unincorporated parts of the county. The decision comes nearly 10 months after the county issued photo identification cards in an effort to comply with a 1996 state law shielding medicinal users from federal prosecution.
The board also voted to outlaw marijuana-growing cooperatives.
Supervisors said they were influenced by District Attorney Grover Trask who suggested the outlets would attract crime.
"It's very hard to go against our district attorney. He is a very responsible man and he's stepped up to the plate and provided leadership here," said Supervisor Marion Ashley.
Riverside County will join San Diego and San Bernardino counties in a lawsuit that aims to overturn the state law requiring counties to issue medical marijuana cards. The counties argue that the federal prohibition of marijuana use takes precedence.
The hearing, which drew about 80 people, were divided about having medical marijuana centers.
"It's so easy for kids to get marijuana these days, and I don't think we should make it any easier," said Nancy Faulstich, 51, a mother of three from Rancho Mirage.
Medical marijuana supporters, however, believed that the supervisors made a bad decision.
"They're pushing everyone out onto the streets," said Nathan Archer, 38, of San Diego, who said he started using marijuana medically seven years ago for chronic pain following a construction accident. "They've said in there they're going to arrest us, but for what? For trying not to suffer?"
In 1996, California voters approved Proposition 215, legalizing the drug for therapeutic use. In 2003, state legislation was approved allowing counties to issue identification cards to medical users to protect them from prosecution by local law enforcement.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that federal authorities could still seize and destroy marijuana stashes and arrest growers and consumers even in the 11 states that allow medical marijuana use.
Federal law prohibits any marijuana use.
NewsHawk: _qWERTY - 420 Magazine
Source: The Mercury News
Pubdate: 27 September, 2006
Copyright: 2006 The Mercury News
Contact: letters@mercurynews.com.
Website: MercuryNews.com : Bay Area news, technology, jobs, cars & real estate
