CANNABIS COLLECTIVES NEED PROPER HANDLING

As Chico City Council begins to consider what the rules should be for
cannabis collectives, The Orion would like to offer some caution:
take the time and do it right on the first try.

In Los Angeles, there are an estimated 800 medical marijuana
dispensaries, despite a moratorium since 2007. While some blame a
loophole in the City Council's legislation, final regulations have
still not been passed by the Los Angeles City Council.

San Francisco came to the party late, passing laws after many shops
simply opened without any oversight at all. The Board of Supervisors
approved legislation requiring medical cannabis clubs to get city
permits in late 2005, but by then the damage was done.

Part of the reason there has been controversy over these clubs and
collectives is because there wasn't much information given to cities
with the passage of Proposition 215, which legalized medicinal
marijuana. The law didn't give cities any guidance for how to handle
distribution of the drug. Should a cannabis club be allowed next to
an elementary school? How about a hospital? Most cities aren't quite
sure what to do.

We don't think that crazed hippies looking to introduce 7 year olds
to the joys of the herb will run these clubs, but we want the rules
for medicinal pot clubs to be done right the first time, because we
don't want the city to revisit the issue again and again.

The Obama administration has issued new guidelines for dealing with
medicinal users, suggesting federal authorities should stop arresting
or prosecuting people who are operating within their state's laws.

That's good news for people who are complying with state law, but
prosecutors can still go after those who sell weed for profit, a
category that federal authorities have used in charging growers and
sellers of medicinal pot.

So far, the people who are either already in the area with their
business, or who are looking to open a cannabis collective, have
chosen to engage the public instead of trying a heavy-handed
approach. They are saying that state law trumps local law while
demanding rights to collectives and cooperatives in town.

We would prefer, though, that the City Council go slow. They should
get public input and then hand it over to staff for some in-depth
research instead of making hasty decisions.

Chicoans have observed the mistakes of other cities. It's a good idea
to avoid their pitfalls and chart a safer, more precise course for
medicinal pot shops. Let's make sure that the rules are clear for
business owners now and for future owners, as well. It'll save a lot
of trouble in the long run.