Pubdate: Thu, 07 May 2009
Source: Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA)
Copyright: 2009 The Press-Enterprise Company
Contact: http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/letters_form.html
Website: http://www.pe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/830
Author: Erin Waldner
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/dispensaries

BEAUMONT READY TO BAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

The Beaumont City Council has decided medical marijuana  dispensaries 
cannot be established locally.

Two weeks after approving the first reading of the  ordinance, the 
council formally adopted the municipal  code addition Tuesday night. 
It will go into effect in  30 days.

The vote was 4-1, with Councilwoman Nancy Gall casting  the 
dissenting vote. Gall said two weeks ago that she  has a problem 
prohibiting something that some Beaumont  residents need.

Councilman Roger Berg remained firm in his position  that allowing 
dispensaries would be in violation of  federal law.

The reason for prohibiting medical marijuana  dispensaries, according 
to the ordinance, is "to  promote the health, safety, morals, and 
general welfare  of the residents and businesses within the City."

Yucaipa resident Marla Green attended Tuesday night's  council meeting.

"I'm here as a patient," she said.

Green said she has fibromyalgia.

She urged the council to consider allowing medical  marijuana 
collectives. Members of such collectives grow  and cultivate 
marijuana for medical purposes.

"There's a lot of sick people in San Bernardino County  that could 
benefit from this," she said.

Mayor Jeff Fox said the council was only forbidding  for-profit 
dispensaries and has directed staff to look  into collectives.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom