An ordinance allowing medical marijuana dispensaries to open in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County was approved by county supervisors Wednesday on a 4-1 vote.
Supervisor Ron Roberts cast the lone dissenting vote, saying he agreed with the assessment of critics that the zoning restrictions severely limit the number of possible sites where a dispensary could locate.
"I am concerned that we are reducing the number of site down to next to none," Roberts said. "I think we're violating the spirit of the law."
Supervisor Dianne Jacob rejected a staff recommendation that would have allowed the dispensaries to open with 500 feet of homes and 600 feet from churches, parks and schools.
Her motion that won approval limits the dispensaries to industrial zones no closer than 1,000 feet from those uses.
Valley Center's Eugene Davidovich, spokesman for the group Americans for Safe Access, contended that restriction effectively shuts out dispensaries entirely.
"What they have done is eradicate medical marijuana anywhere in the county," he said.
A county spokesman said planners maintain there are at least 15 potential sites.
Dispensary operators would have to pay up to $20,000 to obtain a license, money the Sheriff's Department will use to pay for inspectors and assure compliance with state and county laws.
The dispensaries also will be required to pay a lesser amount still being determined as an annual fee required to stay in business.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: North County Times
Author: MARK WALKER
Contact: North County Times
Copyright: 2010 North County Times - Californian
Website: Supervisors adopt restrictive medical marijuana ordinance
Supervisor Ron Roberts cast the lone dissenting vote, saying he agreed with the assessment of critics that the zoning restrictions severely limit the number of possible sites where a dispensary could locate.
"I am concerned that we are reducing the number of site down to next to none," Roberts said. "I think we're violating the spirit of the law."
Supervisor Dianne Jacob rejected a staff recommendation that would have allowed the dispensaries to open with 500 feet of homes and 600 feet from churches, parks and schools.
Her motion that won approval limits the dispensaries to industrial zones no closer than 1,000 feet from those uses.
Valley Center's Eugene Davidovich, spokesman for the group Americans for Safe Access, contended that restriction effectively shuts out dispensaries entirely.
"What they have done is eradicate medical marijuana anywhere in the county," he said.
A county spokesman said planners maintain there are at least 15 potential sites.
Dispensary operators would have to pay up to $20,000 to obtain a license, money the Sheriff's Department will use to pay for inspectors and assure compliance with state and county laws.
The dispensaries also will be required to pay a lesser amount still being determined as an annual fee required to stay in business.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: North County Times
Author: MARK WALKER
Contact: North County Times
Copyright: 2010 North County Times - Californian
Website: Supervisors adopt restrictive medical marijuana ordinance
