Americans for Safe Access has been keeping track of the growth of medical cannabis "dispensing collectives" all over California. As more and more collectives open, cities, suburbs, and rural areas are finding new ways to scrutinize dispensing operations, and in many cases there have been calls for increasing regulation of dispensation. Dispensing collectives or cooperatives have in the past been called anything from "pot clubs" to "marijuana stores," but ASA sticks to language that reflects the intent of SB 420.

ASA currently knows of at least 24 city-wide moratoriums and three county moratoriums that public officials have set up to consider dispensation. Although moratoriums can prohibit the establishment of new dispensing collectives, they do show that local governments want to develop policies around these businesses. ASA is distributing a packet of materials to help people to advocate for dispensing collectives and safe access to medical marijuana.

ASA has published a list of locations and dates for moratorium expirations and hearings on the regulation of dispensing collectives. They include: 3/23 -- Alameda County (unincorporated areas); 3/24 -- Clovis (Fresno County); 3/29 -- Sutter County (unincorporated areas); and 4/22 -- Modesto (Stanislaus County) More