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dispensaries already in existence would have to close. The City of Huntington Beach initially allowed medical marijuana dispensaries in general and limited industrial zones but is considering deleting this permission for medical marijuana dispensaries in its zoning code. On July 17,2007, the Board of Supervisors for the County voted to approve a fee for the issuance of identification cards for patients and primary caregivers, which each county is mandated to issue under the state Medical Marijuana Program Act. The County has not addressed dispensaries from a land use perspective in the unincorporated areas. E. Elsewhere, Pasadena, Fresno, Susanville, and Concord, among others, are among at least 40 California cities that have adopted ordinances banning medical marijuana dispensaries; while another 100 cities have moratoria in place. (Source: League of California Cities.) Each of the aforementioned cities were sued by a non-profit group called the American Medical Marijuana Association (AMMA) that promotes the use medical marijuana. Susanville and Concord prevailed at the demurrer stage and the lawsuit against Pasadena was filed but never served. The lawsuit against Fresno has been stayed and during the stay, Fresno enacted an ordinance which appears to allow medical marijuana dispensaries and cooperatives in any zone district designated for medical offices but only if consistent with State and Federal law (therefore, it really bans them). F. The City of Los Angeles, which previously permitted approximately 100 medical marijuana dispensaries, in August 2006 adopted a one year moratorium on permitting any new dispensaries. The moratorium was based on findings that permitted dispensaries were not complying with existing regulations and were violating criminal laws. In supporting the moratorium, Los Angeles Police Chief Bratton testified before the city's Police Commission in January 2007: "The vast majority of people who use these premises are using them for recreational drug use." G. According to a report prepared by the Los Angeles Police Department, 24 cities and 7 counties had established ordinances authorizing them one way or another. Atascadero, Berkeley, Elk Grove, Hayward, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Visalia, West Hollywood, and Whittier are among some of the cities which allow medical marijuana dispensaries in specified zones. This statistic may be somewhat misleading, however. For example, while Whittier permits dispensaries in its industrial zone, it has ordered the only existing dispensary in the city to close within one year. H. Currently, Long Beach, Corona, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Santa Clarita, and Simi Valley, among others, still have moratoriums in place. Several other cities have opted not to address the issue at the Council level, on the theory that (a) any land use not expressly permitted by the zoning code is banned, and/or (b) no land use can be legally established Ordinance No. NS-2758 Page 2 of7