COUNTY LIFTS MEDICAL MARIJUANA BAN

A decade after California voters legalized medical marijuana, Los
Angeles County supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to regulate dispensaries
in unincorporated areas, effectively lifting a countywide ban on the
facilities.

Dozens of medical marijuana advocates hailed the vote as they
gathered in the rain outside the Hall of Administration and some
lighted up marijuana cigarettes.

Advocates said even despite the ban, dozens of dispensaries have been
operating throughout the county.

"It's difficult to know how many are up and running now," said
Pasadena attorney Scott H. Linden, who said he has helped many of the
dispensaries open. "Everybody has been scared to come forward.

"Hopefully, that's a big part of this (vote) to not be scared to come
forward and say, 'This is what we're doing." Stand out in the open."

California voters approved medicinal-marijuana usage in 1996 and the
Legislature approved guidelines for usage in 2003. The law allows
people with serious illnesses like AIDS, cancer, arthritis and
glaucoma to obtain prescriptions and use marijuana without being
subject to prosecution under state law.

But the federal government does not recognize the state law and while
the county can authorize establishment and operation of dispensaries,
dispensary operators and employees may be subject to federal prosecution.

Under the new rules, dispensaries must obtain valid business licenses
to operate. They also must obtain minor conditional-use permits to
operate in commercial, industrial and residential zones.

The dispensaries may not be within 1,000 feet of schools, youth
facilities, churches and parks, and must have signs, adequate
lighting, a security system and guards.

The dispensaries can provide customers with edible marijuana and
customers can smoke marijuana onsite as long as there is a separate
well-ventilated room.

They also must distribute the owner's name and emergency contact
phone number to neighbors in case of problems. A public hearing
before the Regional Planning Commission will be held if two or more
nearby property owners protest.

Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich cast the sole dissenting vote,
noting he wanted the hearings before the Board of Supervisors.