SUPES TO ADDRESS MARIJUANA DISPENSARY ZONING

A public hearing will be held Tuesday regarding a request from the
Resource Management Agency for the Board of Supervisors to amend the
Tulare County Zoning Ordinance pertaining to the location of medical
marijuana dispensaries.

County staff based it's recommendations for the ordinance on studies
that have shown potential for multiple impact of medical marijuana
dispensaries and appropriate buffer distances.

The buffer zones restrict dispensaries to at least 1,000 feet from
public or private schools, day-care centers, recreation facilities,
any park or any other medical marijuana dispensary.

A draft of the amendment summarizes the findings of the
staff.

"The Board of Supervisors, in adopting this section, takes legislative
notice of the existence and content of the studies concerning
potential adverse effects of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in other
counties and cities," the draft reads.

If adopted, the board would find certain potential adverse effects can
be associated with Medical Marijuana Dispensaries.

Those effects would include, "increases in crimes, specifically theft
of marijuana from individual patients, caregivers or the dispensary,
and the sale of medical marijuana for non-medical purposes; and a
negative effect on the general quality of life for areas surrounding
dispensaries."

The amendment also provides that there are sufficient properties zoned
for commercial and industrial land uses within Tulare County to allow
dispensaries to be established with the unincorporated Tulare County.

The intent of the amendment is to regulate the locating of medical
marijuana dispensaries to promote the health, safety and general
welfare of the citizens of Tulare County.

Also on the Agenda

The Resource Management Agency and representatives from the annual
Jackass Mail Run committee will ask the Tulare County Board of
Supervisors Tuesday for the green light to proceed with the procession
from Highway 190 between the communities of Porterville and
Springville.

Last year, more than 100 riders joined the more the 20-mile
procession. The event is scheduled April 21.

The board convenes at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Tulare County
Administration Building, 2800 W. Burrel Ave., Visalia.