COUNTY EXTENDS MARIJUANA MORATORIUM

The Nevada County Supervisors Tuesday extended a 45-day moratorium on
medical marijuana dispensaries to one year to get more information on
the topic.

The moratorium is now extended to Aug. 11, 2010, "to investigate
potential conflicting laws" and research rules and regulations, said
Tyler Barrington of the county planning department,.

Top county law enforcement officials -- District Attorney Cliff
Newell and Sheriff Keith Royal -- oppose medical pot dispensaries,
particularly when money is exchanging hands.

In a document prepared for the meeting, Planning Director Jory
Stewart said it was unclear whether the dispensaries are legal under
current laws.

"It is clear, however, that the law does have provisions to allow for
a collective or co-op to form," essentially "a closed system" that
does not use a store front, Barrington said.

The county continues to survey other towns about their medical
marijuana dispensaries or why they don't allow them.