POT DISPENSARIES TEMPT SCRUTINY

Our view: We believe Chico's police chief when he says local medical
marijuana dispensaries are operating "beyond the scope of
legitimacy."

Police really are keeping an eye on the medical marijuana trade in
Butte County. Well, that's a relief.

More than two months ago, when reporter Toni Scott wrote a five-day
series about the proliferation of medical marijuana in the Chico area,
Police Chief Mike Maloney said medical pot dispensaries were operating
in the city illegally, but he gave the impression the businesses were
fairly safe from police scrutiny.

"We just don't have the resources," Maloney said. "Everything is on a
scale of priorities."

Turns out the department had a plan - the full extent of which was
revealed last week. Chico police, working with the District Attorney's
Office and other agencies, were building a case against several pot
dispensaries in Chico. On Wednesday last week, more than 100 law
enforcement officers armed with search warrants raided seven
dispensaries and homes to gather information.

No arrests were made. Authorities confiscated marijuana, doctors'
recommendations, computers, financial records and cash. Now the
District Attorney's Office will see if they have a case.

Maloney thinks they do. Medical marijuana dispensaries are not allowed
under current city zoning. Worse, Maloney said in a press release that
marijuana was sold to walk-in customers, which is also against the
law. Cooperatives are supposed to exist to share the herb among users
who are too sick or otherwise unable to grow it themselves. While some
cooperatives follow those rules, others likely exist as a front for
selling marijuana.

Maloney said it appears from initial investigations that some or all
of the dispensaries are operating "beyond the scope of
legitimacy."

Drug abuse is running rampant in this country. Abuse of the medical
marijuana law is the worst offender.

We're glad to see police agencies are keeping an eye on it.