By TIFFANY REVELLE The Daily Journal
Updated: 08/17/2011 12:00:00 AM PDT
Fifth District Supervisor Dan Hamburg Tuesday announced he was stepping down from the ad-hoc committee recently formed to write regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries.
"I'm doing that out of an abundance of caution to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest," Hamburg said during the portion of the Board of Supervisors' meeting reserved for the supervisors' reports.
"My daughter ... has decided that she wants to explore opening a dispensary herself."
The committee hasn't yet had its first meeting, Hamburg said. He added that he would be part of the vote when the dispensary regulations go before the board in draft form.
Hamburg's exit from the committee leaves 2nd District Supervisor John McCowen on the ad-hoc.
County Counsel Jeanine Nadel said the board will discuss at its Aug. 23 meeting either appointing a second supervisor to the ad-hoc committee or allowing McCowen to draft an ordinance that would contain the regulations on his own.
"I understand the reasoning, and I think it's an appropriate action to take, but I was looking forward to working with you," McCowen said to Hamburg. "I think you bring, obviously, a wealth of experience and perspective to the issue, and it would have been a good balance that would have been well received in the community, but we'll carry on."
In its recommendation earlier this year that the county adopt regulations for dispensaries, the Mendocino County grand jury recommended that the board not appoint supervisors who had grown marijuana.
Tiffany Revelle can be reached at udjtr@pacific.net, or at 468-3523.
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_18697441?source=most_viewed
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