El Dorado rethinking medical pot dispensaries
By Cathy Locke, Sacramento Bee
With a moratorium on new medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated El Dorado County set to expire at the end of October, the county Planning Commission has called for an ordinance to allow and regulate the facilities.
The commission at its Aug. 22 meeting objected to a proposed ordinance amendment, initiated by the Board of Supervisors, that would ban all medical marijuana distribution facilities.
“After about four hours of listening and discussion, it was the commission’s directive to allow the existing collectives that are in place today,” said commission Chairman Dave Pratt. “In a second motion, we asked the board to give us a shot at coming up with rules for collectives.”
Pratt suggested it is time for the county to start viewing medical marijuana dispensaries as tax-paying enterprises that can provide jobs and contribute to the local economy.