MITZELFELT TO REJECT POT DISPENSARIES

County Extends Moratorium Until June 2010

SAN BERNARDINO - County supervisors Tuesday extended the moratorium on
medical marijuana dispensaries for up to 10 months while county staff
evaluates possible permitting options.

No matter the staff recommendation, 1st District Supervisor Brad
Mitzelfelt said he will reject all proposed dispensaries in
unincorporated areas.

County staff are right now studying the land use implications of
dispensaries, but regardless of what land use staff reports back to
the Board, Supervisor Mitzelfelt will not support the approval of any
dispensaries in the area he's responsible for," said David Zook, chief
of staff for Mitzelfelt.

Proponents of the marijuana facilities argue that if regulated
properly, dispensaries can serve those suffering from debilitating and
life-threatening health problems without negatively impacting
surrounding communities. Fifty-six percent of California voters
approved the use of marijuana for medical use in 1996 with Proposition
215.

But Mitzelfelt sides with anti-drug advocates on the issue and
believes dispensaries "will encourage illicit drug activity and are
therefore dangerous to communities," Zook said.