cannabisnews.com: Alleged Threats Derail Marijuana Dispensary










  Alleged Threats Derail Marijuana Dispensary

Posted by CN Staff on April 26, 2005 at 10:15:31 PT
By Francis P. Garland, Lode Bureau Chief 
Source: Stockton Record  

San Andreas, Calif. -- A San Andreas woman's plans to open Calaveras County's first medical-marijuana dispensary are on hold because of what she termed "threats" by Sheriff Dennis Downum.Kim Cue said Monday she fears Downum will trigger a federal shutdown of her proposed pot store, which is why she has yet to open for business.
The Board of Supervisors in February adopted rules allowing dispensaries to open with a permit from the county in professional office space at least 1,000 feet away from any school, public library, park or youth-oriented establishment.But no one has applied to open such a business, said Robert Sellman, the county's interim planning director.In February, Cue said she wanted to open for business by April 1. But after hearing Downum say that federal authorities would shut down her business and seize the building, Cue opted to hold off indefinitely."That's just a straight threat," she said. Downum, an outspoken critic of the state's medical-marijuana laws, was in Sacramento on Monday and could not be reached for comment. But Undersheriff Michael Walker said Downum's comments in February were not intended as a threat."He was just trying to protect her interest -- and more so the county's interest -- in telling her what possibly could happen," Walker said.Walker said other jurisdictions have been sued by dispensary owners after they've had their businesses shut down by federal law enforcement officials.Cue said she wasn't worried about getting arrested for operating a dispensary. But she said the possibility of federal authorities seizing her marijuana inventory was enough to dissuade her from opening her store."We're talking $10,000 to $20,000," said Cue, who operates a medical-marijuana delivery business that she said has 300 clients. "I couldn't afford to take that kind of a hit."Cue had planned to raise her concerns with supervisors at Monday's meeting, at which the board introduced a minor correction to the existing medical-marijuana dispensary ordinance, but decided instead to speak with them individually.Supervisor Steve Wilensky, who cast the deciding vote to approve the dispensary regulations in February, said he had not spoken to Downum about his stance on medical-marijuana dispensaries.But he said Downum and all California law enforcement officials are in a difficult position because federal and state laws differ when it comes to medical marijuana.Wilensky said the U.S. Supreme Court is slated to hear a case later this year that should shed light on the conflicting readings."I believe whatever the Supreme Court decides will have a direct bearing on the local situation, and that should clarify and define the sheriff's role," Wilensky said.Source: Record, The (CA)Author: Francis P. Garland, Lode Bureau ChiefPublished: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 Copyright: 2005 The RecordContact: editor recordnet.comWebsite: http://www.recordnet.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 

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