Pubdate: Wed, 13 May 2009
Source: Desert Sun, The (Palm Springs, CA)
Copyright: 2009 The Desert Sun
Contact: http://local2.thedesertsun.com/mailer/opinionwrap.php
Website: http://www.mydesert.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1112
Note: Does not accept LTEs from outside circulation area.
Author: Rasha Aly

CATHEDRAL CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS POT DISPENSARY BAN

City Attorney Charles Green is expected to introduce today at 
Cathedral City's City Council meeting an ordinance banning medical 
marijuana dispensaries in the city.

The council voted 3-2 during its study session April 22 to direct 
Green to draft a law to that effect.

Councilmen Greg Pettis and Paul Marchand voted against a possible ban.

Prohibition is not in the best interest of our residents," Pettis said Tuesday.

At the April meeting, Pettis said medical marijuana should be 
legalized under federal and state laws, and he added the U.S. Food 
and Drug Administration should regulate medical marijuana to allow 
patients to get it from pharmacies.

Councilman Chuck Vasquez countered that crime follows medicinal 
marijuana dispensaries.

The negative byproducts of dispensaries could include armed robbery, 
murder, drug dealing, sales to minors, loitering, heavy vehicle and 
foot traffic in retail areas, and increased noise, according to the 
"White Paper on Marijuana Dispensaries" by the California Police 
Chiefs Association's Task Force on Marijuana Dispensaries. The 
information was included in a city staff report.

The ordinance Green will present tonight is one of two that would ban 
dispensaries from operating within the city, the report shows. The 
meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The ordinance would declare establishing, maintaining or operating a 
medical marijuana dispensary a "public nuisance" and an "unlawful 
use" in Cathedral City.

If the council passes the ordinance, there will be a second vote on 
it at a future meeting ­ as the council does on other ordinances. If 
approved again, the new ordinance would go into effect 30 days later.

The second ordinance, which is scheduled to go before the Cathedral 
City Planning Commission on May 20, would prohibit establishing 
medical marijuana dispensaries in any of the city's zoning districts.

Once the Planning Commission makes its recommendation, council 
members will vote on the ordinance, City Manager Don Bradley said.

Though council members may take the planning commissioners' 
recommendation into account, the council has the final say.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart