Pubdate: Wed, 16 Dec 2009
Source: Record Searchlight (Redding, CA)
Copyright: 2009 Record Searchlight
Contact:  http://www.redding.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/360
Author: Janet O'Neill
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

RED BLUFF EXTENDS BAN ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA OUTLETS

RED BLUFF - With little discussion, the Red Bluff City  Council on
Tuesday night unanimously extended a ban on  medical marijuana
collectives, cooperatives and  dispensaries through next fall.

The action, good for 10 months and 15 days, follows an  initial 45-day
"urgency" prohibition adopted Nov. 3.

More than a dozen speakers showed up at the community  center to
comment on the ban, most of them opposing the  council's anticipated
action.

Donna Will, a Tehama County resident and longtime  medical marijuana
advocate, argued the council's action  was in conflict with
Proposition 215, known as the  Compassionate Use Act of 1996. The
voter-approved  initiative permits medical marijuana use for people
with a doctor's prescription.

"It's the right of the people of California to have  this," she said.
"It was the people who voted for  this."

But Diana Thompson, one of four people who spoke in  favor of the
extension, expressed concern over  potential health problems
associated with cannabis.

"What we're really doing to ourselves is Third World  medicine," she
said.

Statements from speakers often prompted applause or  jeers from those
assembled, filling roughly half the  seats provided.

But after the council's vote on the motion by  Councilman Forrest
Flynn, some opponents huddled in  pairs to carry on their
discussions.

Meanwhile, a separate ordinance that originally called  for a
permanent ban on cultivation and dispensing  marijuana in the city has
been tabled while the council  studies its options. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D