NO MARIJUANA DISPENSARY IN TEMPLETON

Supervisors Are Unanimous Against The Center; Ovitt Says 'The
Community Is Not Accepting It'

By AnnMarie Cornejo

County supervisors Tuesday barred a medical marijuana dispensary
planned for Templeton, saying it was too close to a playground and
did not fit with the character of the community.

The Board of Supervisors' 5-0 vote upheld two appeals that were filed
after the county Planning Commission voted in January to allow the
North County Resource Center to open.

"The biggest part of this whole thing is that the community is not
accepting it," said Supervisor Harry Ovitt, whose district includes
Templeton. He added that the lack of oversight of marijuana
dispensaries contributed to his vote against the one proposed for Templeton.

Applicant Austen Connella said he would continue to fight for a
location to open a marijuana dispensary on the Central Coast, looking
for potential sites in Atascadero or possibly elsewhere in Templeton.

"There is a large demand and a need here," Connella said.

It took the Planning Commission three tries over nearly six months to
reach the 3-2 decision made earlier this year to allow Connella to
open the cannabis co-op.

A county ordinance allows dispensaries in unincorporated inland areas
such as Templeton, but prohibits them from operating in downtown
business districts or within 1,000 feet of any school, library,
playground, park or youth recreation area.

The cities of Paso Robles, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach and Grover Beach
have permanent or temporary bans of dispensaries. Atascadero voted in
2006 to craft an ordinance governing where dispensaries could operate
in the city.

Paso Robles police Chief Lisa Solomon and Templeton resident David La
Rue had filed appeals against the Planning Commission approval of the
dispensary. They argued that the plan violated federal law, would
increase crime and consequently affect local law enforcement and
public service requests.

"The dispensary is not legal and it is not safe," Solomon said. "It
is not safe for the patrons, management or of those living nearby."

Calling the co-op a "compromise to public safety," Solomon said
criminal activity would increase in surrounding communities if the
dispensary were allowed to open.

Solomon also called the county supervisors attention to Connella's
MySpace account, which includes photographs of him smoking marijuana
recreationally.

"Do these pictures portray someone responsible enough to run this
facility in our community?" Solomon asked.

When asked by Supervisor Jerry Lenthall about the My- Space account,
Connella responded that he supports the legalization of marijuana.

Nearly two hours of public comment addressed concerns of residents
who oppose the opening of a local dispensary and included comments
from those who support it.

Representatives of North County schools, law enforcement, parents and
school children spoke passionately about keeping the dispensary out.
Nearly 50 people attended.

"Isn't this sending a mixed message to our children?" parent Diana
McPartlan asked.

Others spoke fervently about the medical relief prescribed marijuana
brought to their lives.

"I consider this area a medically impoverished place," said Dennis
Robison, who said smoking marijuana helped him overcome lung cancer.

Since federal agents raided the Central Coast Compassionate
Caregivers in Morro Bay one year ago, the closest medical marijuana
dispensaries to San Luis Obispo County are in Buellton and Santa Barbara.

The supervisors' decision does not prohibit dispensaries such as the
one proposed by Connella from seeking a business license in other
unincorporated areas of the county.