Pubdate: Tue, 19 Feb 2008
Source: Morgan Hill Times (CA)
Copyright: 2008 Morgan Hill Times
Contact:  http://morganhilltimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3809
Author: Jeremy Barousse

COUNCIL COULD EXTEND MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORATORIUM

The Morgan Hill City Council will decide whether it  will allow
medical marijuana clubs to sprout up around  the city during its
Wednesday evening council meeting.

While pot clubs are non-existent in South County,  Morgan Hill City
Manager Ed Tewes' office and the  Morgan Hill Police Department hope
to keep it that way.

While the use of marijuana for medical purpose is still  illegal under
federal law, it is legal under state law.  The conflict among both
laws was evident when the  federal government shut down clubs in the
East and  North Bay last fall.

According to Morgan Hill police Cmdr. David Swing, the  department
recommends that the city extend the current  prohibition or moratorium
for another year, granted by  state law.

Last March, the city imposed a 45-day moratorium that  was set to
expire April 21, 2007, but the city opted to  enforce a state law that
allows cities to extend that  period by 10 months and 15 days.

"We think we agree with the recommendation to continue  to ban
dispensaries," Morgan Hill Police Cmdr. David  Swing. "The current
positions with the federal and  state laws pose a challenge for the
city."

The department has also noted to the city that a pot  club in the city
will increase violence in the  community and call for service from a
department that  is already low on staff, Swing said.

According to Brian Stott, Tewes' assisstant, the  shortage of Morgan
Hill police plays a large role in  the decision to keep the clubs out
of the city.

"What we have is a shortage of police and they're  already working
hard enough," Stott said. "There aren't  any clubs in the South County
and we as a city feel  that it isn't appropriate for Morgan Hill to be
a hub."

Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate agrees with the  department's
concern.

"I think we need to continue that," said Tate  pertaining to the
current ban on marijuana  dispensaries. "Everybody doesn't want it and
we don't  need to buck against it."

If you drive a little south of Morgan Hill, you can  stop into two
medical pot clubs in Santa Cruz, which  opened their doors in 2006.

Over the past two years, the Surf City has bragged to  have no serious
crime surrounding its new pot clubs as  it requires consistent police
inspections.

Last spring, the Morgan Hill City council extended the  research and
discussion of medical pot clubs and the  impact they bring to their
surrounding community.
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MAP posted-by: Derek