Pubdate: Wed, 23 Dec 2015
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Matt Sanderson, Sanderson writes for Times Community News.

PANEL BANS THE DELIVERY OF POT

The La Canada Flintridge City Council has adopted regulations 
prohibiting medical marijuana dispensaries, cultivation and delivery 
in the city limits.

California cities and towns have until March 1 to maintain local 
regulatory authority over medical marijuana. After that, the state's 
Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act allows potential 
marijuana growers to apply for and receive licenses from the state. 
La Canada Flintridge took action this month.

Councilwoman Terry Walker took issue with the outright banning of 
marijuana delivery services.

"If someone in our town is in a lot of pain and is using marijuana 
legally for the treatment of pain, and say they are bedridden, is 
there any way in this code marijuana can be delivered to them?" she asked.

Susan Koleda, the city's deputy director of community development, 
replied that as the regulations are currently written, that would not 
be allowed, but a patient's caregiver or relative could go out and 
legally purchase marijuana from a city where sales are allowed and 
bring it back.

"If you need OxyContin and your doctor prescribes it, and you get it 
from a pharmacy, they can deliver it to you," Walker said. "I just 
hope that we're not getting overzealous in prohibiting our citizens 
from obtaining legal medication legally without a lot of inconvenience."

Councilman Jon Curtis concurred that he received a call from a 
resident with the same concern of delivery.

City Atty. Mark Steres noted there can be an opportunity to revisit 
the mobile delivery portion of the ordinance in the future.

"Staff believed this was the most prudent action to take at this 
time," Steres said. "As time goes on we will see how mobile delivery works."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom