Riverside Supes Vote CBC Moratorium

email received last Tuesday

Don Duncan reports:

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt
a 45-day moratorium on dispensaries this morning. The moratorium
applies only to unincorporated areas of Riverside County. Local
patients criticized the language as too broad arguing that it could
be read as to prohibit home cultivation and cooperatives and
collectives specifically authorized under SB-420. They also expressed
frustration with the Board for continuing to stall and delay on the
issues of dispensaries and medical cannabis ID cards.

I cautioned the Board that banning dispensaries (or delaying them for
too long) meant failing to implement the state law and the will of
the voters in Riverside. I also pointed out that they may miss the
chance to have any meaningful oversight if they push dispensing
behind closed doors. I offered to help the Board develop good
guidelines that facilitate safe access while protecting patients and
the community. The Board has already received the ASA package for
city councils and boards of supervisors.

Sup. Tavaglione (author of the motion) said that the Board was only
seeking time to write guidelines, saying "we have no right to
prohibit [cooperatives and collectives] as far as I see." He added
that there will be public hearings at a later date. Tavaglione
expressed doubt about Attorney General Lockyer's opinion that
Gonzales v. Raich did not impact local regulations. He also said that
the recent fatal shooting in San Leandro demonstrated the need for
regulation.

Sup. Buster was much more positive in his assessment of cooperatives,
collectives, and medical cannabis in general. He said that cannabis
had many good uses, and that its primary side effect was "making
people happy." Buster also said he liked the idea of people
experimenting with natural remedies like cannabis because it tales
patients out from under the control of corporate drug companies.

Sup. Stone was the only vocal medical cannabis opponent on the Board.
Stone said that he wanted to see the pharmaceutical companies develop
medicines like Marinol that could be dispensed at pharmacies. He also
suggested that allowing dispensaries might lead to "opium clubs"
where unqualified people dispense opiates. Stone disagreed with
Buster's characterization of cannabis as safe, arguing that many
natural substances are dangerous. He wants the guidelines to address
purity and require "qualified professionals" to dispense.

I met with and handful of local patients afterward. They are very
frustrated and fearful of police action. They invited me to an
organizing meeting in Palm Springs.

There were several newspaper reporters present who interviewed me and
the patients.

Don Duncan, Executive Director
Los Angeles Patients and Caregivers Group
<http://www.LAMedicalMarijuana.com>http://www.LAMedicalMarijuana.com

Visit
<http://www.AboutMedicalMarijuana.com>http://www.AboutMedicalMarijuana.com
to find resources for a sensible community medical cannabis policy.