Pubdate: Tue, 23 Mar 2010
Source: Sierra Sun (Truckee, CA)
Copyright: 2010 Sierra Sun
Contact:  http://www.sierrasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2294
Author: Jason Shueh

MEDICAL MARIJUANA: SQAUW VALLEY COUNCIL NEXT UP TO  DEBATE ZONING
RECOMMENDATION

OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. -- Squaw officials should decide  this week
whether or not to join their North Tahoe  counterpart in not
recommending a zoning amendment to  Placer County's board of
supervisors to ban medical  marijuana distribution countywide.

The Squaw Valley Municipal Advisory Committee meets at  6 p.m.
Thursday at the Squaw Valley Service District  Community Meeting Room.

Jennifer Dzakowic, a planner with Placer County, will  explain the
reasoning for the amendment proposed by the  county planning
department, with a public comment  period to follow.

In past presentations, Dzakowic said the planning  department and
planning commission's desire to ban  medical marijuana collectives,
cooperatives and  dispensaries is based on a report by the California
Police Chief's Association labeling medicinal marijuana  dispensaries
as a catalyst for crime.

She has also said the county does not have a policy in  place for
medicinal marijuana business applications to  be processed.

According to the planning department, of the 11 MACs  asked to review
the presentation so far, two have voted  to recommend the amendment to
the board of supervisors,  while two more -- the North Tahoe Regional
Advisory  Council and the Weimar-Applegate-Colfax MAC --  recommended
the board vote against the amendment. Other  MACs declined to review
the amendment.

In its recommendations against the ban, NTRAC urged  board members to
have the planning department provide  definable local crime research
before a ban should be  considered, while WAC recommended a moratorium
on  medicinal marijuana distribution so all options could  be promptly
invested.

The Placer County Board of Supervisors is expected to  vote on the
issue at its April 6 meeting in Auburn.

Dzakowic has said the board has two options: To accept  the proposal
and ban medicinal marijuana businesses in  Placer County; or direct
the planning department and  planning commission to develop zoning
ordinances that  would designate and control marijuana businesses. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D