Pubdate: Wed, 23 Jun 2010
Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2010 San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Contact: http://www.sgvtribune.com/writealetter
Website: http://www.sgvtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3725
Author: James Wagner
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/dispensaries

LA PUENTE DELAYS VOTE ON MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

LA PUENTE - Nearly four months after saying they wanted to ban 
medical marijuana dispensaries, the City Council decided late Tuesday 
to postpone a vote to push the shops out of town.

The council instead decided to meet behind closed doors July 13 to 
discuss potential lawsuits from dispensary owners. Then they will 
take up the matter again at a public meeting scheduled July 27, city 
officials said.

"We need to know what it'll cost us before we go down this road," 
said Councilman John Solis, who proposed the delay.

Several owners of the city's 10 dispensaries have threatened that any 
action to push them out of the city would face legal opposition.

The council's move was approved 3-2 with council members Dan Holloway 
and Nadia Mendoza voting against it.

Holloway, who has opposed the dispensaries, said he wished the 
council did not let its moratorium on dispensaries lapse in 2008.

"I think it's a pretty sad commentary as to where we are," he said.

Holloway wanted to consider the ban Tuesday night, he said.

The 41,000-person city has more marijuana clinics than any other city 
in the eastern San Gabriel Valley - much to the chagrin of area 
pastors and school officials.

By this spring, public outcry against the dispensaries began to 
crescendo, with up to 170 people attending council meetings regarding 
the issue.

The council at a Feb. 23 meeting asked the city's staff to draft a 
law banning the dispensaries.

Then on June 1 the city's Planning Commission voted to recommend the 
council approve a ban.

The proposed ordinance would give shops a Feb. 2, 2011 deadline to 
close. Dispensaries would be able to apply for extensions.

Mayor David Argudo said the city faced potential litigation that 
could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The city had a "fiduciary responsibility" to its residents to 
consider any consequences, he said.

David Touhey, who runs Farm Assists on Hacienda Boulevard near Amar 
Road, said he intends to honor a 10-year lease he signed for his shop 
in August. A decision against his shop and others would be costly, he said.

"To approve this ordinance will be one of the most irresponsible 
things this city has done," Touhey said. 
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