RIVERSIDE COUNTY: BENOIT CALLS FOR POT DISPENSARY BAN

Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit called Tuesday for a ban on
medical-marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas.

Supervisors in September ordered a law drafted that would regulate
where the businesses could locate. But Benoit said the county should
change course.

"While our process is under way, dramatic action was taken in Los
Angeles and Orange counties last week to ban medical pot shops,"
Benoit said. "I would suggest this board should consider following
that lead rather than taking an intermediate step."

The boards of supervisors in those two counties each voted 4-1 to ban
medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas. With those
bans, Benoit said Riverside County could "become the dumping ground
for this type of activity."

If the county passed its own law and it is challenged in court, the
county also would have to shoulder the legal costs, Benoit said.
Mirroring action in Los Angeles and Orange counties is a safer
approach, he said.

Supervisor John Tavaglione agreed. "I think we need to go down that
path as quickly as possible," he said.

If the county bans dispensaries, it would mark a reversal from
September, when Benoit and Supervisor Jeff Stone suggested regulating
the operations.

The proposed measures included limiting the number of collectives and
cooperatives, regulating their locations and requiring them to
register annually with the Sheriff's Department.

Benoit said his comments Tuesday did mark a shift. Allowing the
businesses and regulating them seemed the most prudent option in
September, Benoit said by telephone Tuesday.

But the bans in Orange and Los Angeles counties changed things, he
said. An internal county committee will make a recommendation to
supervisors about how to proceed.

Benoit said he wanted the group to include a ban in its discussions.