Pubdate: Wed, 07 May 2014
Source: Desert Sun, The (Palm Springs, CA)
Copyright: 2014 The Desert Sun
Contact: http://local2.thedesertsun.com/mailer/opinionwrap.php
Website: http://www.mydesert.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1112
Note: Does not accept LTEs from outside circulation area.

DHS TO GO SLOWLY ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Desert Hot Springs Is Wise to Go Slow in Its Pursuit of Medical 
Marijuana Dispensaries. Go Very Slow.

It's a complicated venture, but it does have the potential to provide 
revenue to a city desperately in need - from sales tax and, if 
two-thirds of voters approve, a fee on the dispensaries similar to 
the one approved by Palm Springs voters last year. The move should 
not be made out of desperation, however. The city must be confident 
that it has the resources to monitor dispensaries.

Desert Hot Springs would join Palm Springs as the only cities in 
Riverside County to permit medical marijuana dispensaries.

With the passage of the Compassionate Care Act of 1996, California 
became the first state in the nation to allow medical marijuana. 
Today, 20 states and the District of Columbia allow it. Washington 
and Colorado now allow the sale of marijuana for recreational use.

Besides the revenue potential, Desert Hot Springs should consider it 
for the convenience of patients who genuinely need pain relief. 
Transportation is a major issue for many of the seniors who need 
medical marijuana. Compassion should begin at home.

DHS Police Chief Dan Bressler said he would support exploring the 
idea if the regulations proposed in Senate Bill 1262 become law. 
Introduced by Sen. Lou Correa, a Democrat from Santa Ana, the bill 
was drafted by the California Police Chiefs Association and the 
League of California Cities.

The bill aims to treat medical marijuana more like medicine. It would 
provide serious oversight to the multibillion-dollar industry for the 
first time. It proposed to require the state Department of Public 
Health to license cultivation sites and dispensaries.

The Senate Health Committee approved the bill last week, but only 
after dropping the Department of Public Health as the controlling 
agency. Assembly Bill 1894, introduced last year, proposes putting 
the Alcoholic Beverages Commission in charge of regulations. Ideally, 
regulations would be controlled by the Food and Drug Administration, 
but the federal government still considers marijuana a Schedule 1 
controlled substance. That would happen only if Congress acts. 
Another controversial part of SB 1262 would control who could 
prescribe medical marijuana. It proposes that only a primary-care 
physician or a specialist could do so. Doctors would need a 
certificate in substance abuse training.

The bill also would require quality assurance programs to test for 
bacteria, pesticides or mold - an element that has been introduced in 
Palm Springs. It's good that the debate is under way. The impression 
that almost anyone can get a medical marijuana card - even to cure 
insomnia - gives the business a bad reputation.

Palm Springs sets a good example for Desert Hot Springs to emulate if 
it decides to get into the medical marijuana business. A study of the 
three dispensaries estimates that they generate $4.5 million in 
annual combined sales. The city set the marijuana fee at 10 percent 
in January and has approved a fourth dispensary that could open by July.

Desert Hot Springs should make sure it gets a marijuana fee in place 
before opening the first dispensary is approved so it has the 
resources to support community wellness programs, substance abuse 
counseling and shut down the inevitable illegal dispensaries.

DHS Councilman Scott Matas said that considering the financial 
success of dispensaries in Palm Springs, it's worth exploring the 
possibility of one or two dispensaries. With better guidance at the 
state level and lessons learned from Palm Springs, this compassionate 
local effort could be good for Desert Hot Springs.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom