Pubdate: Sat, 04 Jun 2016
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2016 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.utsandiego.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/386
Note: Seldom prints LTEs from outside it's circulation area.

A WELCOME CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL POT SHOPS

Marijuana dispensaries are now part of life in California and need to 
be regulated properly. Thankfully, the Wild West era of pot sales in 
San Diego seems likely to be on its way out with the latest round of 
fines for both illegal dispensaries and their landlords.

We welcome the $830,000 in penalties approved recently by local 
judges, as well as City Attorney Jan Goldsmith's decision to start 
bringing criminal as well as civil charges against violators of city 
zoning rules meant to keep dispensaries away from churches, parks, 
schools, and housing. The city has now won nearly $3 million in 
judgments over illegal dispensaries, and more judgments loom as 
Goldsmith's office continues to target illegal operators.

The city has approved 14 legal dispensaries, which typically spend 
hundreds of thousands of dollars to get through the regulatory 
process and which must comply with city requirements on security 
guards and surveillance cameras. They played by the rules and 
shouldn't be punished by competitors who flout the law.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom