EXISTING BAN ON MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES REMAINS IN PLACE

RIVERSIDE - The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted to halt a
plan to regulate medical marijuana collectives, leaving in place an
existing ban on dispensaries that allows code enforcement officers to
crack down on storefront operations popping up around the county.

The move comes on the heels of recent bans in Los Angeles and Orange
counties and a Riverside County Superior Court ruling that the City of
Riverside can use its zoning power to ban medical marijuana
dispensaries. Without a similar ban in place, Riverside County likely
would become a magnet for Southern California dispensaries and
criminal enterprises.

"It is very possible if we don't take some action, we could be the
dumping ground for medical marijuana dispensaries from throughout
Southern California," said Supervisor John J. Benoit, the measure's
co-author. "Today's action is in sync with two large Southern
California counties."

Supervisor Jeff Stone, who also signed the Advertisement

[ North County Cosmetic ] measure, said the move is necessary if
Riverside County wants to avoid becoming a magnet for the
dispensaries.

"The bottom line here is public safety," said Stone. "We need to make
sure we curb the abuse of marijuana, the distribution of marijuana to
people who aren't utilizing it for medical use but rather recreational
use, and the crime, morbidity and mortality associated with that."

Riverside County's existing ban, Ordinance No. 348, mirrors those
enacted in Los Angeles and Orange counties and is similar to those
passed in other local governments across the state. Code enforcement
officers will be enforcing the ordinance against dispensaries that
have been operating in violation of the ban.

In September, the board adopted an order directing public safety and
planning departments to work with county counsel to draft an ordinance
regulating the collective or cooperative cultivation of medical
marijuana. The recent 5-0 vote repeals that order.