Pubdate: Sun, 07 Feb 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
Author: Erika I. Ritchie

LAGUNA BEACH OKS SHORT-LIVED POT BAN

LAGUNA BEACH Among the last of Orange County's 34 cities to place a 
ban on pot cultivators, delivery services and dispensaries, Laguna 
Beach last week became likely the first to make it ineffective.

The Laguna Beach City Council approved the ban Tuesday night but 
added a sunset clause that would void the ban if Gov. Jerry Brown 
signed Assembly Bill 21, an urgency ordinance that removes the March 
1 deadline on the state's new medical marijuana law.

On Wednesday, Brown signed the bill.

The deadline - called a typo by many advocates - prompted most Orange 
County cities to jump on the bandwagon and pass emergency bans to 
keep local control of marijuana on the books.

"We wanted to make sure the governor signs the extension," Mayor 
Steve Dicterow said Wednesday. "We wanted local control. We don't 
want Sacramento controlling what we do here."

On Tuesday night, the City Council seemed prepared to approve the 
second reading of the ordinance and pass the ban with little discussion.

But more than a dozen medical marijuana proponents made emotional 
pleas to the council.

Some said they suffered from chronic or terminal illnesses and found 
that medical marijuana helped alleviate their symptoms.

Resident Michael Beanan said beyond the many who have chronic and 
debilitating illnesses, there is a huge group of veterans suffering 
from PTSD who can benefit from medical marijuana.

"Since the passing of the Compassionate Care Act, the city has 
delayed development of sensible and safe access for veterans with 
PTSD and severe physical disabilities choosing medical cannabis over 
more dangerous pharmaceuticals prescribed by the Veterans 
Administration doctors," said Beanan, who served as a Navy Seal 
during the Vietnam War.

Councilman Bob Whalen initially suggested holding off a vote until 
later this month to see if Brown would sign the bill in the meantime.

In the end, the council followed the lead of Alameda County, the 
first local government in the state to add the sunset clause to a 
marijuana ban vote.

With that, Laguna is likely the only Orange County city to 
immediately make its ban ineffective, said City Attorney Phil Kohn.

Dicterow said Wednesday that immediately upon the governor's ban, the 
city will look at commercial transportation of medical marijuana and 
how to balance that need with public safety.

The City Council asked Police Chief Laura Farinella to come back with 
a set of local regulations that would govern how delivery service can 
be allowed.

One of those options included making sure the service was not-for-profit.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom