Pubdate: Tue, 11 Apr 2006 Source: Oakland Tribune, The (CA) Copyright: 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers Contact: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/314 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal) THE SMOKE BEGINS TO CLEAR ON MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES Like bowling pins, the number of medical marijuana clinics in unincorporated areas continues to tumble. A Natural Source on Foothill Boulevard in Ashland closes Friday. And in three weeks, after new boundaries are effective for medical marijuana dispensary sales areas, a lottery will result in either an Ashland or Cherryland cannabis club biting the dust. None of which will happen too soon for sheriff's Capt. Dale Amaral, who has the "law" part taken care of and now would like to see just a little "order." Amaral is in charge of issuing and regulating three prized permits for medical marijuana sales in Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland and San Lorenzo. The lottery, he acknowledged Monday, has him a little concerned. "We've asked the county counsel what procedure we should follow," Amaral said. "I sure don't want how we conduct the lottery to be litigated. We need to know how it's been conducted here in the past, or what they recommend." Two years ago, the unincorporated areas had seven cannabis clubs. In 2004, county supervisors began a process to regulate them, including limits on the number of clubs and stringent permit procedures. Now, five clubs are operating, and three area permits are available. County supervisors did not adopt a map defining the areas until last Tuesday, to accommodate a boundary shift between two areas. We Are Hemp on Lewelling Boulevard in San Lorenzo is the only dispensary to win permit approval for Area One: San Lorenzo and north-central Cherryland. The Garden of Eden dispensary on Foothill Boulevard in south Cherryland has been added to east Ashland-Castro Valley, known as Area Three. Amaral said the Garden of Eden has almost completed its background checks, most notably security conditions at its building, and "appears to qualify for" the Area Three permit. A Natural Source's closure will leave the Garden of Eden as the only outlet in Area Three. Area Two, northwest Ashland and south Cherryland, is left with two dispensaries: the Alameda County Resource Center in Ashland and Compassionate Caregivers of Alameda County of Cherryland. These businesses have passed preliminary reviews to qualify for the lottery. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake