Pubdate: Fri, 14 May 2010
Source: Kennebec Journal (Augusta, ME)
Copyright: 2010 MaineToday Media, Inc.
Contact: http://www.kjonline.com/readerservices/Send_a_Letter_to_the_Editor-KJ.html
Author: Keith Edwards, Staff Writer
Cited: Berkeley Patients Group http://www.berkeleypatientsgroup.com/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis – Medicinal – U.S.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/dispensaries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Berkeley+Patients+Group
INQUIRY, AND RULES, HERALD CITY POT CLINIC
Former California Operator Interested
AUGUSTA — With at least one inquiry already made about opening a nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary in Augusta, city councilors are considering rules to restrict where such facilities could locate.
Councilors discussed ordinance changes to address medical marijuana dispensaries Thursday, and are expected to consider the first of two required readings to adopt the changes at their business meeting next week.
In the meantime, a now-local resident who City Manager William Bridgeo said has worked with an established medical marijuana dispensary in California hopes to open a facility in or around Augusta.
“Thank you for implementing regulations that will, hopefully, prevent a lot of problems which could occur if you weren’t ahead of the curve,” Becky Dekeuster, a new resident of Augusta who expressed interest in opening a medical-marijuana facility, said after councilors discussed drafting the rules Thursday.
Dekeuster said Thursday she was not representing a specific group but has previously indicated, before a state task force that wrote Maine’s medical marijuana rules, she has worked with the Berkeley Patients Group, which has run a dispensary in California for 10 years.
In a November 2009 state referendum, voters approved allowing nonprofit dispensaries to open across the state. Earlier this month, the state Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services announced it is accepting applications from nonprofit corporations to become dispensaries under Maine’s Medical Use of Marijuana Act.
Continues: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n360/a06.html