PUBLIC CAN HELP SHAPE POT RULES

STOCKTON - The public has a chance to shape rules governing how
medical marijuana is distributed in San Joaquin County.

The Thursday night public workshop would concern marijuana
dispensaries in unincorporated areas of the county and is separate
from the rules for inside the Stockton city limits.

In April, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors voted to extend
a temporary ban on opening medical pot dispensaries by a year.
Officials said the time would be used to draft a permanent ordinance.

Thursday's public workshop at the Public Health Auditorium is part of
that process.

After the workshop, county staff will prepare a draft ordinance,
according to the Community Development Department.

From there it will come before the public again at a Planning
Commission hearing.

The commission may make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors
for another hearing.

There could be additional workshops or hearings throughout the
process, according to the county.

The new ordinance would cover the mostly rural areas in San Joaquin
County between cities, but there are sections of urban unincorporated
county in and around the city of Stockton, too.

Last month, the Stockton City Council approved rules that would allow
three medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.

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If you go

The San Joaquin County Community Development Department is holding a
workshop to solicit comments from the public on a new medical
cannabis dispensaries ordinance. The workshop begins at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday at the Public Health Auditorium, 1601 E. Hazelton Ave. in Stockton.