COUNTY READIES MEDICAL POT RULES

Santa Cruz - County attorneys are expected to submit an ordinance by
October outlining the amounts of medical marijuana patients in the
county may possess. Meanwhile, county planners are grappling with the
issue of where medical pot dispensaries may be placed in the county.

With little discussion, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday directed
county counsel to craft an ordinance that would allow patients to
possess 3 pounds of pot and maintain a 100-foot canopy of plants.

Canopy is a measure of leaf coverage in a given area. Experts say
using canopy as a measure, rather than the number of plants, is a
better method as it accounts for large plants.

The lone dissenting vote was cast by 4th District Supervisor Tony
Campos. He did not offer an explanation for his no vote, and didn't
return phone calls Tuesday seeking comment.

Meanwhile, county planners are studying potential dispensaries and a
report on the legality and zoning of them should be ready in the fall,
Planning Department Director Tom Burns said.

Supervisor Jan Beautz said the county should address where such
dispensaries might be located, what hours should be allowed and other
related issues as medical marijuana policies are refined.

"It seems like this is as good as time as any to look at those
things," Beautz said.

The city of Santa Cruz addressed that question in June 2000. According
to the city ordinance, the marijuana dispensaries must operate in
industrial or commercial-industrial areas 50 feet from homes and 1,000
feet from schools.

Little was said about the possession guidelines. They are expected to
reflect the findings of a physicians group asked to explore the issue.

At the request of Sheriff Mark Tracy, the board in May asked former
county health officer George Wolfe to convene a physicians group to
develop guidelines on how much pot patients may keep. The group
included two doctors who treat many HIV/AIDS patients. The team looked
at policies in other communities as well as information from
physicians in other areas experienced in treating patients who use
medial marijuana.

The group also gleaned information from three patients who participate
in federal program with marijuana grown at the University of
Mississippi. Talks with those patients concluded they receive about 6
pounds of pot per year.