Many US communities are blocking medical marijuana
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By GEOFF MULVIHILL
Associated Press
More and more states are saying yes to medical marijuana. But local governments are increasingly using their laws to keep dispensaries out.
In California, nearly 200 city and county governments have banned marijuana dispensaries over the past eight years.
And in New Jersey, half of the six groups selected by the state to cultivate and sell pot to patients have been rejected by the towns where they've tried to set up shop. Only one has announced zoning approvals so far.
Some medical-marijuana advocates say locking dispensaries out of communities is going to hurt desperately ill patients.
Seventeen states allow sick people to obtain marijuana to treat symptoms such as nausea and pain. (Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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