Medical marijuana dispensaries – called collectives or cooperatives – dot the main streets and alleyways of Pacific Beach; at least two have cropped up within the past month. Many members of those collectives are awaiting the County of San Diego to back the 13-year-old statewide medical marijuana ID program. But even as the county’s board of supervisors voted unanimously on June 23 to begin issuing ID cards for doctor-approved patients, the board also moved to prohibit illegal dispensaries in unincorporated parts of the county. “What’s being addressed here are the dispensaries that would not be a legal cooperative under state law,” said Tom Bunton, a senior deputy counsel for the county. “If you wanted to open up a shop and start selling marijuana [for profit], you can’t do that.” County supervisors struggled to clarify the law for card-carrying collective members since federal law prohibits the possession of marijuana while state law permits its medical use. “These cards may provide a false sense of security, as the person still may be prosecuted under federal law,” said board of supervisors chair Dianne Jacob. Meanwhile, several beach-area collectives have opened on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to hear San Diego County’s appeal of California’s Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Prop 215) this past May. The act allows patients to use marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation. That U.S. Supreme Court decision has forced San Diego County to begin issuing medical marijuana ID cards to verified patients in compliance with Senate Bill 420 passed in 2003. Robert Merten, a 40-year-old Pacific Beach resident and co-owner of Total Herbal Care that dispenses medical marijuana, said that it’s about time the county caught up with the rest of the California voters who spoke out in 1996. “It’s been 13 years before the people [of California] get what they voted for,” Merten said. Merten and his partner, 30-year-old Aaron Ralstin, opened their dispensary in a quiet alley at 4667 Cass St. on Sunday, June 7. With about 65 members and counting, they join more than a dozen dispensaries throughout the city. “Our main message is to make our patients feel comfortable getting their medicine,” Ralstin said. While the county takes steps to crack down on illegal pot shops, nonprofit collective owners within city limits take extra steps to make sure they stay protected by state law. Collectives are a nonprofit group of individuals working together to supply, grow and dispense various types of marijuana and other marijuana derivative products liked baked goods to members. Other beach-area dispensaries include the Pacific Beach Collective at 929 Turquoise St. that opened May 11, The Green Kross Collective at 3145 Mission Blvd. that opened a month ago and the Medicinal Solutions Patients Collective at 861 Hornblend St. In Ocean Beach there is the Beach Collective at 4852 Voltaire St. and the Canna Pharmacy Collective near the intersection of Venice Street and Brighton Avenue. Owner of The Green Kross Collective, who asked not to be identified, said he opened the Kross Collective about a month ago because federal and state leaders created a “perfect storm” for collectives to thrive politically. He added that this is a pivotal time for citizens to educate themselves about medical marijuana and act responsibly. “I just hope every [owner] acts ethically and abides by the rules,” he said. But while the city and county struggle internally to keep legitimate medicine out of the hands of abusers, a movement toward legalization is afoot. Legislation introduced by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) in February would legalize and tax the plant, resulting in an estimated $1.3 billion in tax revenue for the state, according to the website www.yes390.org. The bill currently sits on the desks of California legislators. Patients using marijuana for pain can begin applying for the county ID cards starting July 6 at $166 a card, a cost comparable to other counties. It will cost the county approximately $10,000 annually to issue the cards that must be renewed every year, according to county officials.