Pubdate: Thu, 16 May 2013
Source: Bakersfield Californian, The (CA)
Copyright: 2013 The Bakersfield Californian
Contact:  http://www.bakersfield.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/36
Author: James Burger

MAXWELL CALLS FOR CITYWIDE POT SHOPS BAN

Bakersfield City Council member Terry Maxwell on Wednesday called for 
City Attorney Ginny Gennaro to draft an ordinance banning medical 
marijuana shops in the city.

Medical marijuana advocates and opponents made conflicting appeals to 
the Bakersfield City Council Wednesday night.

The city, by council resolution, banned storefront cooperatives and 
collectives years ago, but there has been no concentrated enforcement.

A recent California Supreme Court decision, upholding the right of 
cities and counties to ban the shops, has brought the issue back to 
the forefront.

Bail bondsman T.J. Esposito call on the council to "monetize" the 
businesses and make use of the millions in tax revenue that 
cooperatives and collectives can provide the city.

Phil Ganong, an attorney who has made a name representing medical 
marijuana collectives and cooperatives, urged the council to develop 
an ordinance that would regulate shops but support the jobs and tax 
revenues they can generate.

But Nora Weber said she sees the people who come out of one 
dispensary daily and doesn't believe patients are there for the 
medical uses state laws were passed to protect.

"I've never seen so many medically disabled 18- to 36-year-olds in 
all my life," she said.

Maxwell asked Gennaro to draft an ordinance for council review that 
would replicate the ban in the city of Riverside, the community whose 
policy was upheld recently by California's highest court.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom