Pubdate: Tue, 06 Apr 2010 Source: Napa Valley Register (CA) Copyright: 2010 Lee Enterprises Contact: http://www.napavalleyregister.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/736 Author: John Waters Jr. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) CALISTOGA MULLS NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORATORIUM Calistoga city leaders say they need more time -- again -- to consider a medical marijuana dispensary ordinance. At first, the city placed a 90-day moratorium on pot shops, then followed that up with a 10-month interim ordinance. Now the Calistoga City Council wants to extend the moratorium for an additional 12 months. The proposed extension is expected to pass at tonight's council meeting. The city has been grappling with a medical marijuana policy for a year. On March 30, 2009, City Hall received a business license application for a medical marijuana dispensary in town. The request was later withdrawn by the applicant. About a month later, the council decided it had better head the next request off at the pass and passed a 45-day ban so councilmembers could work out policies about zoning and business operation rules and restrictions. Toward the end of that moratorium they decided they needed more time, extending the moratorium another 10 months and 15 days. According to staff reports, one of the reasons for the extension was to see what happens with a pending lawsuit, Qualified Patients Assn. v. City of Anaheim in Orange County. In that case, advocates of medical marijuana are challenging a Southern California city's outright ban on marijuana dispensaries. That case could be decided as early as April 29 -- maybe earlier -- according to a Calistoga city staff report. Since the council passed the urgency ban last spring, there have been several changes on the medical marijuana front. For one, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said the Justice Department would no longer raid legally licensed medical marijuana clubs. Separately, a marijuana legalization initiative has qualified for the November 2010 ballot. Additionally, the city of Cotati approved a dispensary, Napa is planning to allow one, American Canyon banned any business banned by federal law and Lake County has adopted an ordinance banning any new medical marijuana facilities. Calistoga planning staff and the police chief have assessed the impacts in communities where dispensaries have been allowed. Police Chief Jonathan Mills said those impacts have been increased loitering, illegal drug activity, burglaries and other criminal activity. Advocates for dispensaries say they raise tax revenue, and that many clubs have a record of contributing to local nonprofit organizations and charities. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom