POT CLUBS CLOSE DOWN IN SAN MATEO COUNTY

Medical marijuana clubs have been getting a major buzzkill from new
regulations in San Mateo County.

Two cannabis cooperatives in unincorporated North Fair Oaks near
Redwood City apparently closed after county officials denied their
applications for licenses under an ordinance regulating pot clubs
that the Board of Supervisors approved in April.

In its first decisions on pot club licenses, the county's licensing
board ruled Nov. 2 that Blue Heaven and the Universal Healthcare
Cooperative violated a requirement that collectives be located at
least 1,000 feet away from any school, recreation center or youth
center. Other provisions of the law require cooperatives to have an
alarm system and bars on windows, and prohibit them from employing felons.

Universal Healthcare Cooperative appealed its denial, arguing against
the method of measuring the 1,000 feet as the crow flies, said
licensing board chairman Jim Eggemeyer. But the licensing board --
made up of one staff member each from the planning department, the
sheriff's office and the health department -- upheld the ruling with
a 2-1 vote on Nov. 30.

Two other license applications were denied Nov. 2, both for
applicants that had not yet opened cooperatives.

It's not yet clear whether the Universal Healthcare Cooperative will
appeal again to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, but for
now it appears the owners have moved out.

No one was at its former location at 171 5th Ave. when a reporter
visited last week and Thursday. The club's phone line is
disconnected, and nearby merchants said the club's founders quietly
left sometime last month.

About two blocks away, a sign on the door at Blue Heaven's former
location at 3149 Middlefield Road reads: "Sorry we missed you! We are
no longer open in Redwood City."

Now, Blue Heaven Coastside in Moss Beach appears to be the only
outlet on the Peninsula for legal cannabis. The county is still
processing an application from that club and two other applications
to open clubs at locations near Belmont and in North Fair Oaks, said
sheriff's spokesman Tom Merson.

The increased regulation of medical cannabis on the Peninsula comes
as the Obama administration has signaled the federal government will
stop raiding medical marijuana clubs that comply with state laws.
Medical marijuana was legalized in 1996 in California by when state
residents approved Proposition 215.

Kris Hermes, spokesman for Americans for Safe Access, an
Oakland-based medical marijuana advocacy group, said the county
should develop a map to show where the facilities can locate without
violating the 1,000-foot rule.

"If it completely cuts off access because of onerous requirements in
the ordinance, then clearly it's not a good way to proceed, and the
(county) has to go back and review its ordinance," Hermes said.

Supervisor Carole Groom said she stands by the 1,000-foot
restriction, though she is open to re-examining the ordinance at some
point. "I think it's up to the providers to follow the ordinance," she said

Cities are also taking up the issue, with Los Altos passing
moratorium on pot clubs this week and Redwood City set to consider a
similar action Monday.

Redwood City City Attorney Stan Yamamoto said a temporary ban will
give the city a chance to debate how to regulate the cooperatives.
"The public has a right to come in to speak to the issue," Yamamoto said.