Pubdate: Tue, 22 Sep 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, Staff Writer CALIMESA COUNCIL TO CONSIDER MORATORIUM ON MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES A moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries is likely to be adopted by the Calimesa City Council next month. The five-member council directed staff Monday night to draft a 45-day moratorium and bring it back for their vote on Oct. 5. The council could extend the moratorium up to two years, a staff report states. Council members say the moratorium will give the city time to research the issue of medical marijuana dispensaries. Mayor Jim Hyatt expressed interest in contacting Inland cities that allow dispensaries to see how it's working. Councilman Bill Davis said he doesn't have a problem with the use of marijuana for medical purposes but does have questions, including what law enforcement costs are associated with dispensaries. The council also wants to see how the California Supreme Court rules on a case challenging the city of Anaheim's ban on medical marijuana dispensaries. Calimesa is just one of several Inland cities to take up the issue of medical marijuana recently. Beaumont enacted a prohibition on dispensaries earlier this year and followed up with a moratorium on collectives and cooperatives. Yucaipa adopted a ban on dispensaries on Sept. 14 and the week before, the Loma Linda City Council extended a ban on dispensaries through July 2010. Dispensaries became an issue in Calimesa when a group called South Coast Patients Collective Association approached the city about establishing one in town. "Since then, staff has received a few inquiries from other interested parties waiting to see what action the city will be taking," a staff report states. Calimesa's zoning code does not address medical marijuana dispensaries. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr