cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Receive Waiver Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Receive Waiver Posted by CN Staff on May 07, 2008 at 08:50:06 PT By Joshua Sabatini, The Examiner Source: San Francisco Examiner San Francisco, CA -- Although The City’s medical marijuana dispensaries were initially told to obtain permits nearly two years ago, the Board of Supervisors voted to grant another extension Tuesday.City legislators adopted rules governing the marijuana dispensaries in November 2005 in response to resident complaints that there were too many pot sellers, and that the businesses were often clustered together in neighborhoods, in some cases near schools, attracting drug dealing and crime. The law required clubs to obtain city permits by June 2006 or be forced to close down.On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors voted 10-1 to extend the permit deadline to Jan. 21, the second extension granted by the legislators. “I find it more than ironic that this industry more than any other industry continues to be granted waiver, after waiver, after waiver,” said Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, who voted against the extension.Supervisor Chris Daly, who introduced the bill, said the dispensaries are working to comply with the law but city departments had been slow in processing the permits.Permits require approvals from the Planning, the Public Health, and Building and Inspection departments, and the Mayor’s Office on Disability.City Planner Tara Sullivan-Lenane told the board on Tuesday that permit has been granted to date, she said, while 29 others are working their way through the other city departments.Complete Title: Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Receive Waiver; Red Tape BlamedSource: San Francisco Examiner (CA)Author: Joshua Sabatini, The Examiner Published: May 7, 2008Copyright: 2008 San Francisco ExaminerContact: letters sfexaminer.comWebsite: http://www.examiner.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 07, 2008 at 13:10:39 PT Press Release From The Drug Policy Alliance Medical Marijuana Bills Clears Key Committee in CaliforniaWednesday, May 7, 2008Last week, the California Assembly Committee on Public Safety approved AB 2743, authored by Assembly Member Lori Saldaña (D – San Diego). The bill would make it the policy of state and local law enforcement agencies not to cooperate with the DEA or other federal law enforcement agencies in their attacks on sick and dying medical marijuana patients and their providers.In 1996, the voters of California enacted Proposition 215, which authorized the use and cultivation of medical marijuana in the state. More than ten years after the law went into effect, there remain elements of local law enforcement who refuse to recognize the will of the voters. “Medical marijuana patients and providers desire to be in compliance with state and local laws, and take responsible actions to ensure that local governments are aware of their activities and businesses,” said Curtis Notsinneh, DPA’s deputy state director in Sacramento, who testified in support at the hearing.Yet some local law enforcement groups still feel the need to investigate, raid, and arrest these providers. In some of the most egregious cases, some of these providers were permitted to operate by local governments, only later to be turned over to the federal government by local law enforcement officials. It is time to call on all agencies to respect the will of California voters and stop cooperating with federal attacks on patients and providers. Drug Policy Alliance will continue to work with Marijuana Policy Project, Americans for Safe Access, the ACLU, and public defenders to support this legislation as it progresses. http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/050708mmj.cfm [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Yanxor on May 07, 2008 at 09:02:20 PT I fail to see the irony “I find it more than ironic that this industry more than any other industry continues to be granted waiver, after waiver, after waiver”Ofcourse, instead lets require them to get permits, then not process the permits they submit, and then close them down for not having permits.Exactly like the marihuana tax act of 1937. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment