ONE POT CLUB PERMIT ISSUED, TWO REMAIN

The Alameda County Sheriff's Department has issued one of three prized
permits for medical marijuana sales in unincorporated areas.

Capt. Dale Amaral said Wednesday that We Are Hemp on Lewelling
Boulevard in San Lorenzo received the permit for San Lorenzo and
western Cherryland.

There were seven medical marijuana dispensaries 16 months ago when
county supervisors decided to regulate the number of sales outlets and
their locations.

Two closed their doors as supervisors set up operating rules, limited
the number of clinics to three and launched a permit application process.

The Compassionate Collective of Alameda County, the Garden of Eden and
the Alameda County Resource Center are likely to compete in a lottery
for the permit covering the rest of Cherryland and most of Ashland.

A Natural Source is appealing the denial of its permit application by
the Sheriff's Department and an administrative panel. Supervisors will
hear the appeal at 11 a.m. Feb. 28.

A Natural Source is the only dispensary in the third permit area of
eastern Ashland and Castro Valley. If its appeal is not successful,
county options could include developing another permit process or
deciding two dispensaries are enough.