South County

SUPERVISOR CANDIDATES VOICE OPPOSITION TO MEDICAL POT CLINICS

The board is expected to vote today on a plan for a marijuana
dispensary in Nipomo

The two candidates for South County supervisor both oppose a medical
marijuana clinic being proposed for Nipomo and frown on such clinics
in general.

Paul Teixeira and Mike Zimmerman say clinics that provide marijuana
for medical purposes attract crime, one of the arguments against the
store being proposed for Nipomo.

In addition, such venues are running into routine community
opposition, Teixeira said.

"Nobody wants them," Teixeira told The Tribune on Monday. He likened
them to toxic waste dumps in their lack of popularity.

Teixeira and Zimmerman are running to replace Katcho Achadjian as
supervisor for South County, which includes Nipomo. Achadjian, a
Republican, is leaving the Board of Supervisors after three terms to
run for state Assembly, facing off in November against Democrat Hilda
Zacarias and Libertarian Paul Polson.

The proposal to create a medical marijuana dispensary at 425-B North
Frontage Road will go to the Board of Supervisors, still including
Achadjian, for a vote today.

Applicant Robert Brody of Los Angeles appealed to the board after the
Planning Commission turned him down in May.

Marijuana for medical use is allowed under state law, but not federal
law. San Luis Obispo County has sanctioned no outlets, despite pleas
from patients with cancer and other painful diseases who say marijuana
alleviates their pain.

"This dispensary is for people who have doctor's recommendations that
are sick," Brody told planning commissioners.

The proposed clinic would be in an industrial park and away from
homes. But there is a nearby gymnastics studio that children attend,
planning commissioners said in turning down Brody.

In addition to the potential crime problem and the possible presence
of children in the vicinity, Zimmerman noted the difference between
state and federal law and said clinics should not be allowed unless
that is resolved.

The Sheriff's Department opposed the clinic, as did the South County
Advisory Council.

The Planning Commission vote was 3-2 against the clinic.

Commissioner Anne Wyatt, who was on the short end of that vote, said
what the county is "seeing is a de facto moratorium on any of these
businesses. That is the bigger issue. It's sad for people who are in
need of this."