SUPERVISORS EXTEND BAN ON NEW POT DISPENSARIES

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to
extend a moratorium on new medical marijuana dispensaries.

A recent ordinance was extended until Jan. 5, 2009, or until a
regulation process is approved by the board. New regulations likely
would follow a business-license approach, said George Finney, the
Resource Management Agency's assistant director for planning.

"I'm proud of the supervisors," said Rick Morse, special advocate for
Americans for Safe Access. "They're wanting to make sure that this
is done right the first time."

A more structured approach to the regulation of medical-marijuana
dispensaries appealed both to supervisors and several residents who
attended Tuesday's public hearing.

Morse said it's better for those wishing to open dispensaries if
regulations are clear-cut. Melanie Mendes, operator of a medical
marijuana dispensary in Tipton, said such regulations would have made
the opening of her store less confusing.

"I spent three days at the courthouse ... wondering how do I find out
if what I'm doing is OK," she said.

Mendes' made sure her business didn't break zoning regulations the
board had previously set, including a requirement that dispensaries
be located in a commercial or industrial zone. Other restrictions
prevented them from being established within 1,000 feet of
sensitive-use areas, which include schools, child-care facilities,
parks and churches with children's activities.

Mendes invited the board to take a tour of the dispensary to see how
it operates.

Lupe Arzola wasn't as successful as Mendes, however. Arzola's
dispensary, Good Nature, in Pixley has raised the ire of many Pixley
residents, some of whom spoke against his business during Tuesday's
hearing.

They claim his business is within 1,000 feet of both a charter school
and a preschool program.

"We're very anxious to get business in Pixley," said Louise Rambo,
Pixley Town Council member. "But the community -- to a person -- does
not want this dispensary."

She called the current way dispensaries are established "very poorly
structured." In that, Rambo and Arzola agree.

"I'm for regulation, if it's going to benefit all the dispensaries,"
Arzola said.

In other actions, the supervisors:

Approved the registration and certification of the Tulare County
Professional Firefighters union.

Approved the registration of the Government Lawyer's Association of
Workers union.