ANOTHER TWIST TO POT SHOPS: A COUNTYWIDE CO-OP

Nevada City Vice Mayor Robert Bergman suggested medical marijuana
proponents create a co-op to sidestep the need for a dispensary in the
Gold Rush town.

In all of my wanderings and research, I wondered what you could do and
what you couldn't do" with medical marijuana in Nevada City, Bergman
said. "I surmised it's still possible for a co-op."

If you look at the intent of the thing, the Compassionate Use Act,
what it's really getting at is, you can get your marijuana," Bergman
said. "This is just a different implementation.

No one wants to deny anyone from getting their medicine."

In a 3-2 vote last week, the Nevada City Council banned the
dispensaries, with council members Sally Harris and David McKay
spearheading the opposition to dispensaries on the council. They both
argued that Nevada City was too small geographically for a dispensary.

Bergman, who had sought more time to research the issue before a
decision was made, sided with Harris and McKay to settle the issue
although his reasons differed from those of his colleagues.

He also suggested that a collaboration between Nevada City, Grass
Valley and the county could be another possible solution for
dispensary proponents.

We've never been approached about it. It's never come up.," county
Supervisor Hank Weston said. "Understand that the D.A. and the sheriff
are adamantly opposed to a dispensary in the county."

Harry Bennett, who had originally filed a business license to open the
facility in Nevada City, didn't return repeated telephone calls for
comment.

The perception of Bergman's vote as "no" to medical marijuana, is
untrue, he said.

It's not unfair," Bergman said. "And I'm just really dedicated to
fairness.

In this setting, you really have to look at multiple concerns," he
said.