Pubdate: Thu, 17 Nov 2005
Source: San Francisco Examiner (CA)
Copyright: 2005 San Francisco Examiner
Contact:  http://www.examiner.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/389
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)

S.F. POT CLUB LAW A GOOD STEP

San Francisco is in a position to keep much closer watch over The
City's medical marijuana dispensaries, thanks to a new set of
regulations passed by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

Among other rules, under the regulations new pot clubs must keep at
least 1,000 feet away from schools and clubs may sell up to 1 ounce of
medical cannabis at a time.

Perhaps most significantly for neighborhood residents who often found
out about dispensaries only after they had already opened, the rules
provide for the Planning Commission to hold hearings on the location
of clubs, when residents may give their opinions.

Is this going to be the conclusion of cannabis club regulation? That's
not likely, and it shouldn't be. Putting the regulations into action
is likely to reveal the need for some adjustments and new rules may be
needed as dispensaries change in the future.

But the bottom line is that the new regulations are much better than
the uncontrolled environment in which clubs operated previously, yet
still allow the dispensaries to operate.

This is an important step for San Francisco. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake