Pubdate: Wed, 21 Nov 2007
Source: Monterey County Herald (CA)
Copyright: 2007 Monterey County Herald
Contact:  http://www.montereyherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/273
Author: Claudia MelENdez Salinas, Herald Salinas Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

COUNCIL REJECTS POT STORES

Law Similar To Marina, Seaside Bans

Salinas became the third city in Monterey County to ban medical 
marijuana dispensaries after a divided council voted Tuesday for an 
ordinance that prohibits their establishment.

After 75 minutes of debate, Mayor Dennis Donohue joined council 
members Steve Villegas, Janet Barnes and Tony Barrera in voting to 
adopt an ordinance that bans stores from selling pot for medical use. 
Marina and Seaside adopted similar measures earlier this year.

Councilwoman Jyl Lutes, whose first husband died of cancer and saw 
the relief he experienced from marijuana, was the most fervent 
supporter of allowing medical dispensaries in the city. She said it 
was unfair to ask patients to drive to Santa Cruz -- the closest 
place where marijuana can be obtained legally -- or to grow it in 
their backyard, as Deputy City Attorney Chris Callihan said is 
allowed by state law for sick patients.

"When you get a spinal cord injury, or are diagnosed with cancer, you 
don't get nine months to grow (the plant)," Lutes said. "It's 
disingenuous to say you can grow it yourself after a sudden 
occurrence or injury."

But top law enforcement officials, including District Attorney Dean 
Flippo and Monterey County Sheriff's Cmdr. Douglas Dahmen, said state 
and federal law don't allow marijuana shops -- the law only allows 
people who demonstrate a medical need for the drug and their 
caregivers to carry it. Dahmen said the county would be at risk of 
losing federal funds for its gang task force if the city contravened 
federal regulations.

"If medical marijuana passes, federal funding would be seriously 
jeopardized," Dahmen said.

As part of his report to the council, Callihan showed a news clip 
about a federal raid to a medical marijuana dispensary in Modesto, 
where the Drug Enforcement Administration confiscated two vehicles, 
60 pounds of pot, and $16,000 in cash. The DEA also raided seven 
homes where they believed pot was being grown. The dispensary, 
federal law enforcement officials argued, had become a storefront not 
only for marijuana, but for other drugs.

With all of Salinas' problems, starting with its gang violence, the 
majority of the council said they didn't want to add more.

"We have enough problems," Barnes said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom