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RIO DELL PASSES TEMPORARY BAN ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

An application to form a medical marijuana collective has prompted Rio Dell to put a hold on dispensaries until some regulations can be set.

The Rio Dell City Council approved a 45-day moratorium on the formation of medical marijuana dispensaries Tuesday night, citing a need for the creation of an ordinance.  The temporary ban is effective immediately.  The council has forwarded the matter to the city's planning commission for further review before it comes back before the council, Interim City Manager Jim Stretch said.

According to staff reports, there is concern that medical marijuana dispensaries may "create negative secondary effects in the community," citing a survey of other cities -- including Oakland, Hayward, Fairfax and Roseville -- done by the city of Rocklin, Calif.  The survey said effects included increased illegal drug activity, theft, robbery, burglary and home invasions.

The application is for a downtown business.  Services would include the sale and dispensing of marijuana, a business that existing zoning doesn't address.

Rio Dell follows other cities in Humboldt County which are working on ordinances, including Ferndale and Eureka.  The city of Arcata has already completed its ordinance, which is based on land use codes.

Councilman Jack Thompson said the moratorium is meant to give the city some time to better understand the law and set guidelines to protect its other businesses.

"We have a very large downtown business area that is very depressed.  We don't need to do something that sounds like it may make it more difficult," he said.