Pubdate: Wed, 06 Jul 2011 Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA) Copyright: 2011 Chico Enterprise-Record Contact: http://www.chicoer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861 Author: Andrea Wagner, Red Bluff Daily News TEHAMA COUNTY BANS MARIJUANA DISPENSARY ZONING RED BLUFF - After more than a year of discussion and deliberation, the Tehama County Board of Supervisors last week decided to ban zoning for medical marijuana dispensaries. Planning commissioners recommended the ban June 9, rather than an alternative ordinance that would heavily regulate dispensaries. Several people spoke about the issue, mostly in support of a ban. The one exception was resident Richard Clapp who argued that the only thing a pot overdose does is cause sleep, while other drugs can kill. "The law and the courts have let us down," said Supervisor George Russell after the hearing closed. There is an unwillingness at the state level for legislation addressing issues that have come up, and no funding to enforce the law, he said. There are no controls in place to make sure only qualified individuals get medication. There is a lack of interest in the ordinance, Russell said. At the most, 10 people have attended public hearings on the matter and he hasn't received many calls. Right now, the county does not have the capabilities to oversee the dispensaries, he said. The other four supervisors agreed. "I think the medical marijuana law has been abused to a point where it's just not manageable anymore," said Supervisor Ron Warner. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.