Pubdate: Wed, 08 Dec 2010 Source: Imperial Valley Press (CA) Copyright: 2010 Imperial Valley Press Contact: http://www.ivpressonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1877 Author: Elizabeth Varin MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES OK'D FOR EL CENTRO Sara Ambriz of Brawley couldn't enjoy her daily tasks, her children, even her life before she started using medicinal marijuana. The cancer patient went from 10 types of medicines a day that would knock her out to two, she said. It's helped her enjoy things again. She was among the crowd of medical marijuana patients and advocates who pled their case before the El Centro City Council, trying to get one of the last cities which hasn't banned the dispensaries to allow them. Scattered clapping echoed in the room after the City Council voted 5-0 to direct staff to bring back an ordinance allowing medical marijuana dispensaries within the city. Councilman Jon Edney made the motion, saying it was better to regulate than to ban it. It's especially important with all the cities around the banning the drug. "I'll agree there are people in this community, in Imperial County, that have medical issues that can be provided a benefit by having medical marijuana," he said. "I don't think anyone would necessarily disagree with that in a sense." However, there are going to be issues, as there are with anything that goes before the City Council, he said. Edney was not convinced by the crowd of about a dozen people who spoke out for the dispensaries, as most were not from the Valley, he said. Councilwoman Cheryl Viegas-Walker agreed, saying that there is nothing that irritates her more than out-of-towners coming in and telling the council what's best for the city. The residents are conservative, but also compassionate. She supported having medical marijuana dispensaries that are "limited, highly regulated, highly controlled," she said. Viegas-Walker and Edney will sit on a task force to create the ordinance with staff. The ordinance is tentatively scheduled to head back to the council at the first meeting in June. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt