SUPERVISORS DELAY VOTE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE

Sheriff Threatens To Enforce Federal Law If Deadline Missed

Alameda County supervisors on Tuesday delayed a vote on an ordinance that
would regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas.

Supervisor Nate Miley pushed for the two-week postponement to give the
public more time to review the controversial ordinance. It calls for no
more than five dispensaries -- down from the current seven -- in
unincorporated areas of Castro Valley, Ashland, Cherryland and San Lorenzo,
and enforces regulations on permitting, hours of operation, yet-to-be
determined operation fees and other issues.

The ordinance is expected to come before the board again on June 7 for a
first reading and vote, but the delay will push the board close to a June
17 deadline set by Sheriff Charles Plummer, who has said he will start
enforcing federal law and shut down the dispensaries unless the county has
an enforceable ordinance in place.

In an interview after the meeting, Plummer said he's willing to extend the
deadline, as long as supervisors take a vote in two weeks that demonstrates
a good-faith effort to move ahead.

If the board doesn't pass the ordinance at the first reading, the
department will move against the dispensaries, Plummer said.

Instead of taking a vote Tuesday, the board heard more than two hours of
public comment and a wide variety of views on the proposed ordinance,
including comment from Oakland resident Angel Raich, a plaintiff in a case
before the U.S.

Children's advocates, business owners and neighborhood association
representatives lobbied for a tougher ordinance and fewer dispensaries.
Many favored a plan suggested by Miley that would open a clinic at
county-owned Fairmont Hospital in unincorporated San Leandro.

But medical marijuana patients and dispensary owners presented the other
side, saying they support safe dispensaries close to home. Some speakers
said the clinic operators are responsible business owners who are becoming
scapegoats for other neighborhood problems.

But Miley A-- who has been working on the ordinance for two years A--
warned speakers that the board is fast approaching the sheriff's deadline.
He grew frustrated with those trying to "poke holes" in the ordinance.

"It's beyond my ability at this point to fashion something that's going to
please you all," said Miley, his voice rising in anger. If an ordinance
isn't adopted soon, Miley said, "there won't be any dispensaries because
the sheriff will shut them down."