cannabisnews.com: Pot Clinic Hopefuls Call Applications Too Invasive





Pot Clinic Hopefuls Call Applications Too Invasive
Posted by CN Staff on August 31, 2005 at 09:31:12 PT
By Karen Holzmeister, Staff Writer
Source: Oakland Tribune 
California -- Is Alameda County being too nosy when it asks medical marijuana dispensary permit applicants for the names of ex-spouses, former in-laws, driver's license information and even if they have work-related pensions? That's what some cannabis club owners in unincorporated areas claimed as Tuesday's application deadline for three prized dispensary permits approached.
Alameda County Sheriff Charles Plummer, whose department is in charge of applications, had one word for them during a meeting break at the county administration building in Oakland: "Tough." Sheriff's Capt. Stephen Roderick expanded on his boss's characteristically blunt-spoken comment. The Sheriff's Department, which will evaluate applicants and select permit recipients, "did what it thought was necessary to obtain information so that the dispensaries are run appropriately," Roderick said. Adele Morgan, co-owner of We Are Hemp in San Lorenzo, said the detailed forms were complicated. The personal information sought by sheriff's investigators would be more appropriate to candidates for deputy sheriff, she said. Oakland attorney Dennis Roberts, representing Cherryland's Garden of Eden, complained in letters to county supervisors and to Plummer that the application's questions are "a huge invasion" of privacy. Tuesday afternoon, Roberts also voiced concern that information about finances, illegal drug use, arrests and Social Security numbers could become public record and used against the applicants. Some of the information "serves no useful purpose" and is "an invasion of privacy," Roberts said. "Why is it important if someone's former father-in-law has (criminal) convictions?" The applications were due at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. As of late Monday, only one of the six clinic operators had submitted his application. Roderick said the names of applicants would be released today, after members of his department initially reviewed the paperwork. There are six dispensaries operating in Ashland, Cherryland and San Lorenzo. In June, county supervisors agreed to halve that number but added Castro Valley as one of the communities where a marijuana sales outlet could be located. Roderick said representatives of county departments will review the applications and select permit holders, probably in October. Applicants are not limited to current dispensary locations. Note: Deadline for three permits passes, and owners say county asked inappropriate questions. Source: Oakland Tribune (CA)Author: Karen Holzmeister, Staff WriterPublished: August 31, 2005Copyright: 2005 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: triblet angnewspapers.com Website: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #1 posted by Zandor on August 31, 2005 at 11:21:08 PT
this sounds funny to me.
It sounds more like you are filling out your own arrest record and they are just weighting to fill in the arrest date until later. It's kind of like digging your own grave just before you get two in the back of the head.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment