PANEL NIXES POT SHOPS

Despite hearing testimony from a number of residents as to why
medical marijuana dispensaries should not be banned in San Bernardino
County, the members of the planning commission voted to recommend
such a ban to the board of supervisors.

The hearing got so "hot" at times that several speakers were escorted
out of the meeting chambers by sheriff's deputies due to their
disorderly or otherwise inflammatory behavior.

Although public testimony was closed at the end of the initial Feb. 3
planning commission meeting, the commissioners heeded several pleas
to reopen testimony and additional testimony was allowed on Feb. 17.

Chairman Nan Rider had her hands full, trying to control the meeting
as many speakers discussed issues that had been previously presented,
despite having been told only new evidence would be accepted.

Many speakers discussed their personal reasons for taking medical
marijuana and their confusion over the county's attempt to ban the
dispensaries when state law allows them under the Compassionate Use Act.

Crestline resident Noah Beauvais held one of his most cherished books
in his left hand when he addressed the commissioners. He told the
board it contained, among other things, the U.S. Constitution. He
said that throughout the country's history, women, people of color
and many other groups have been discriminated against and the medical
marijuana fight going on today is another example because, he said,
"We're fighting the same thing today."

Another Crestline resident, Scott Bledsoe, told commissioners that
that [county] staff is completely biased on this matter. As he became
more and more upset, he was eventually ejected from the meeting.

Several speakers addressed the high cost of growing the crop indoors
if licensed medical marijuana users are forced to do so. "Something
has to be done to allow us to grow our medicine outside," said
disabled veteran Jeremy Weissmiller. He told commissioners he can go
to a VA hospital and get any drugs he asks for but, he added, "they kill you."

Weismiller reminded everyone that marijuana is "just" a plant. "It is
a seed. Let me take control of my health and grow my own." He and
several other speakers told commissioners that the high cost of
electricity needed to grow their own medical marijuana indoors is prohibitive.

Another Crestline resident, Timothy Meadows, passionately told the
commissioners the ban would make it possible for the sheriff to kick
down his door, arrest him and haul him away. He also said he knew the
planning commissioners were a rubber stamp for the board of supervisors.

"Somebody above you is probably pulling the strings. You're going to
make me a criminal so I will have no choice but to file a lawsuit," he said.

One of the basic conundrums of this discussion is the state has
approved licenses for people who require the medicine to grow and/or
purchase medical marijuana from legal dispensaries. However, the
county is considering overriding the state if the board of
supervisors approves the ban for medical marijuana dispensaries.

Many speakers said there needs to be "reasonable regulation" of the
cultivation of medical marijuana as well as medical marijuana
dispensaries and that the tax revenue collected would be able to
benefit the county. One speaker told the commission, "Why do you
people have the right to tell me where I can grow my pot in my house?
I don't come to your house and see what beer is in your refrigerator.
I don't understand why the county says I can't do what the state says I can."

The planning commission is composed of five members, one from each of
the county's five supervisorial districts. A wide variety of issues,
from large and complex developments to smaller changes in land uses,
are considered by the commission which either recommends the projects
be approved or rejected by the board of supervisors.

The board of supervisors will consider the planning commission's
recommendation to ban medical marijuana dispensaries at its March 15 meeting.