County Temporarily Bans Facilities In Unincorporated Areas
POSTED: 6:08 pm PDT May 31, 2005
UPDATED: 6:19 pm PDT May 31, 2005
LOS ANGELES -- Medicinal marijuana dispensaries were temporarily banned Tuesday in unincorporated areas, as county supervisors directed staff to study potential regulations and where such facilities should be located.
"The reason I have brought forward this ordinance is because the proposed dispensary locations are too close to homes and schools," said Supervisor Don Knabe.
"I am pleased that there are many advocates who agree that dispensaries should be regulated, and I call on them today to work with the county to ensure that these dispensaries are not located near residential areas and schools," he said.
The 45-day ban, approved 5-0 without comment from the board, does not affect dispensaries within municipal boundaries.
Several advocates were in attendance at Monday's board meeting. Don Duncan, co-operator of dispensaries in Berkeley and West Hollywood, offered his support to a group -- California Medical Caregivers Association -- seeking to open a dispensary in Hacienda Heights, an unincorporated area in eastern Los Angeles County within Knabe's district.
David Nam, a CMCA director, said patients must have a doctor's permission. Typical dispensary users suffer from serious diseases such as AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, m...<More>
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