Pubdate: Tue, 08 Dec 2009
Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2009 San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Contact: http://www.sgvtribune.com/writealetter
Website: http://www.sgvtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3725
Author: Mike Sprague
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

WHITTIER OKS MORATORIUM FOR NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

WHITTIER - The City Council on Tuesday night voted  unanimously to
impose a 45-day moratorium on any new  medical marijuana
dispensaries.

Mayor Bob Henderson said this temporary ban will give  the city time
to amend its existing ordinance to ensure  Whittier isn't flooded with
more of the businesses.

The council already has approved a permit for one such  business,
Seventh and Hope, at 8116 Byron Road, Suite  D. It hasn't opened yet.

"What I'm asking for is a criteria developed that would  prevent the
over-concentration in a small area so there  aren't too many in the
community," Henderson said.

"We don't want to see a shopping center of  dispensaries," Henderson
said.

Henderson said he's concerned because the  city has received a lot of
inquiries asking about  opening another medical marijuana dispensary.

"There should be a reasonable number," he said. "It  shouldn't become
a regional solution."

Henderson said two possible ways to control the issue  would be to
establish a distance requirement between  dispensaries or a place cap
on them.

The temporary ban will give the city planning staff  time to devise
the necessary changes, said Jeff  Collier, director of community
development.

The council most likely will be asked to extend the  moratorium on
Jan. 12 for another 10 months and 15  days. A new ordinance is
expected to come back to the  council by spring 2010, Collier said.

Collier confirmed the city has received a number of  inquiries - maybe
as many as 50.

"I believe there is a lot of pressure to spot more  facilities in that
small area," Collier said, referring  to the industrial area south of
Washington Boulevard  where the city now allows medical marijuana
dispensaries.

Jason Jamison, president of GM Properties that  represents two of the
property owners on Byron Road,  has said in the past that he's had
several inquiries  about opening a medical marijuana dispensary.

However, there are only two buildings in the area small  enough to
warrant a dispensary.

One of the owners, who is leasing property to Seventh  and Hope, won't
rent to another dispensary, Jamison  said.

The second owner, who could, is still skeptical about  his liability,
Jamison said.

Whittier Councilman Joe Vinatieri, who with  Councilwoman Cathy Warner
voted in the past against  allowing any dispensaries in the city, said
earlier  this week that his position is unchanged. He wasn't  present
during the discussion because he became ill  Tuesday.

"If the council wants to slap a moratorium, I'm in  favor of that,"
Vinatieri said. "(Medical marijuana) is  inconsistent with our
community's values."

A medical marijuana supporter said Whittier already is  appreciated
for its ordinance and that distance  requirements could be OK.

"We don't necessarily object to deconcentration  provisions as long as
they don't produce such onerous  requirements to prohibit their
location in the city,"  said Kris Hermes, spokesman for Americans for
Safe  Access, a national group that supports medical  marijuana. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D