Pubdate: Mon, 11 Jan 2016
Source: Orange County Register, The (CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Orange County Register
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321

CITIES SCRAMBLE TO BAN POT

The Register had it right when it reported, "Tustin joins pot 
ban-wagon" as the city voted last week to prohibit "the cultivation, 
processing, delivery and distribution of marijuana citywide." It's a 
familiar story, being repeated across the county. Villa Park voted on 
a similar ban in December; its new rules went into effect Jan. 1.

Cities are scrambling to double down on their pot bans in reaction to 
state rules going into effect soon. As Register opinion columnist and 
editorial writer Sal Rodriguez noted last week, "[A]n apparently 
erroneous line in the regulations has sent local governments across 
the state scrambling to impose bans on medical marijuana cultivation, 
mobile delivery and dispensaries ahead of a March 1 deadline set by 
the regulations."

Further, he noted that, "Under current reading of the law, local 
jurisdictions without ordinances regarding cultivation in place by 
the deadline will thus cede authority over the matter to the state."

While that certainly explains the haste, the outcome is still 
disappointing. But while perhaps clarification of the new state rules 
would offer more thoughtful policies on medical marijuana than the 
continuing parade of knee-jerk bans, public perception of the drug is 
changing, and it would be wise to prepare for the future.

It seems likely that statewide propositions fully legalizing 
marijuana will qualify for the 2016 ballot. Legal marijuana may soon 
be coming regardless of what appears  rather than an actual concern 
for safety to be a moralistic disdain for the drug. Santa Ana, which 
is gradually legalizing a few dispensaries, shouldn't be expected to 
do the heavy lifting on the issue for the county.

Prohibition has proved that making something illegal doesn't end 
demand for it and continuing efforts to limit access to medical 
marijuana, nearly 20 years after California voters approved 
Proposition 215, remains disheartening. Now is the time to carefully 
craft policies that allow access while maintaining the character of 
our communities. Procrastination won't help once statewide 
legalization occurs, but will boost the black market in the meantime.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom