Medical marijuana dispensary denied

A medical marijuana dispensary won’t be allowed in Oceano after the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors unanimously upheld an appeal of its permit Tuesday.
Supervisors found the location violated the required 1,000-foot minimum distance from a park and the dispensary would be detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the residential neighborhood.
Last fall, Tammy Murray, director and chief executive officer of Compassionate Cannabis Information Center, was granted a permit by the Planning Commission to operate a dispensary in the 1400 block of South Fourth Street.
That decision was appealed by Oceano resident Barbara Mann.
Sheriff Ian Parkinson told the board Murray is “trying to do right” and had gone “above and beyond” to create a dispensary that would meet state guidelines and operate in a safe manner.
But he was concerned about homes behind and adjacent to the site.
“I’ve got to protect the rights of the people here in this county over businesses,” Parkinson said.
Testimony from neighbors and non-neighbors was roughly split for and against the dispensary at Tuesday’s hearing.
Opponents said the money and marijuana at the dispensary would attract criminals bent on robbing the facility or its clients.
They also expressed concern about traffic and for the children that congregate in the area, even meeting the ice cream vendor directly in front of the proposed dispensary.
Proponents said the dispensary would not attract a criminal element, clients would not be a threat to children and the dispensary is essential to those who need medical marijuana.
Supervisors Adam Hill said he was “greatly conflicted” about the dispensary, but said if he erred, it would be on the side of caution.
“I’m sitting on the same fence as Mr. Hill, and in the end, I’ll probably fall off on the same side — and I’m sorry to say that,” said Supervisor Bruce Gibson.
Although they said they don’t object to medical marijuana, supervisors Paul Teixeira, Frank Mecham and James agreed the dispensary violated the distance ordinance and would be incompatible with the neighborhood.