POT CLUB LICENSING PROCESS TO CHANGE

County Supervisors to Consider Time Limit for Application,
Applicants' Right to Privacy

OAKLAND - A key vote today may give owners of medical marijuana
dispensaries in unincorporated Alameda County the proverbial pot of
gold at the end of the rainbow, or at least a lucky four-leaf clover.
But vocal residents still are insisting the six clubs in Ashland and
Cherryland must go because of crimes ranging from murder to robbery to
assault.

And without specifying locations, Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley
told them last week that "a good number (of the clubs) are going to be
closed down. We do know which ones."

This morning Miley and his four fellow supervisors must make two
important decisions that could delay actions on the dispensaries for
months. Should operators of the six current dispensaries have 125 days
to apply for three prized dispensary operating permits? Should the
applications themselves require less detailed information than forms
distributed this summer by Sheriff Charles Plummer's department? If
the answer is yes, three of the six cannabis clubs - which faced
permanent closure after not submitting applications by the original
Aug. 30 deadline - will win a reprieve and a chance to enter the
permit lottery.

Additionally, the streamlined applications up for supervisors' review
this morning don't ask detailed questions about relatives or associates.

Some club operators described requests for this information on permit
application forms, distributed by the sheriff's department this
summer, as intrusive.In June, county supervisors approved an ordinance
that would halve the number of current dispensaries from six to three,
but added Castro Valley as one of the communities where marijuana
could be sold.

Supervisors also decided that sales should be limited to three
locations with county permits and supervision.

Now supervisors will be asked to revise the application and permit
process, which resulted from their June vote, in part because of
objections raised by Oakland attorney Dennis Roberts, who represents
the Garden of Eden dispensary on Foothill Boulevard in unincorporated
Cherryland.

Invasion of privacy and the relevance of relationships - including
former spouses and child-support questions - were among his concerns.
It's not clear whether the three clinic operators that submitted the
original applications on time would be required to turn in new ones.
San Lorenzo resident Peter Hagberg circulated a petition to close the
clinics at his community's 60th anniversary celebration last month. He
said the county needs more stringent regulations to avoid
"gangland-style shootings."

He referred to recent robberies at several clinics, including one on
Aug. 19 at a dispensary on Foothill Boulevard in unincorporated
Ashland, which resulted in one robber's death.

He said he's observed "healthy young men," with "little or no need for
marijuana," going in and out of clinics."

Alameda County supervisors meet at 10:30 a.m. today at the county
administration building, 1221 Oak St., fifth floor, Oakland.