cannabisnews.com: City May Regulate Marijuana Co-ops





City May Regulate Marijuana Co-ops
Posted by FoM on May 11, 2001 at 10:33:58 PT
By Alex Gronke, Staff Writer
Source: Contra Costa Times
On Tuesday, some 200 protesters failed to convince the City Council that medical marijuana cooperatives should remain unregulated by the city. Responding to concerns from residents who live near existing marijuana cooperatives, the council initiated a process that could ultimately result in a moratorium on new cooperatives.The council also got the ball rolling on creating a system that would grant cooperatives licenses and permits.
As it stands now, medical marijuana cooperatives do not need special permits to operate."They are trying to zone us out of existence," said Jim Squatter, co-director of the Cannabis Buyers Cooperative of Berkeley. "They want to set up a Draconian system that would shut us down."Carrying signs that read, "Berkeley Government Hands Off Our Medicine," protestors rallied in front of the council chambers on Martin Luther King Boulevard and encouraged motorists to honk their car horns in support.Councilman Kriss Worthington said the council's actions do not represent a threat to existing cooperatives."When you have a clear process it protects the cooperatives as well as the neighbors," said Worthington.Concerned residents fear that marijuana cooperatives could be an attractive targets for robbers, and increase crime in the neighborhoods where they are located.It is not yet clear what specific branch of the city government will be charged with oversight of medical marijuana cooperatives.A moratorium on new cooperatives couldn't go into effect without a public hearing or a seven to nine council vote.The medical marijuana patients who came out in support of their medicine also spoke to the issue of how many plants patients should be allowed to grow in Berkeley.Presently, the city allows for patients to grow 10 plants without fear of prosecution. That, say patients, is no where near enough.Some protestors engaged in civil disobedience.In open defiance of the city's laws Angel McClary, a medical marijuana patient, brought 11 tiny marijuana sprouts into the council chambers and dared the council to have her arrested."Most patients already fear their conditions, they don't fear things like going to jail," she said.Worthington, who is in favor of boosting the number of allowable plants to 48, said he will wait to put the issue on the council agenda until he feels he has more support among his colleagues.He said the testimony of some of the patients at Tuesday's council meeting might have helped his case."You could see that some of the council members were really listening," he said.Source: Contra Costa Times (CA)Author: Alex Gronke, Staff WriterPublished: Friday, May 11, 2001Copyright: 2001 Contra Costa Newspapers Inc.Website: http://www.contracostatimes.com/Feedback: http://www.contracostatimes.com/contact_us/letters.htmRelated Articles:200 Protest Medical Pot Ruleshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9662.shtmlBerkeley Ponders Marijuana Rules http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9655.shtmlProtest Demand Increase of Marijuana Plant Limithttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9651.shtml
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