Council Continues Discussion of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
By Sarah Elizabeth Villicana, The Porterville Recorder, Calif.
Mar. 7–While the Porterville City Council has directed staff to prepare guidelines for medical marijuana distributors, federal law may have to change before dispensaries can set up shop in Porterville.
City Attorney Julie Lew presented two options to the council at Tuesday’s regular meeting.
The first alternative included four sample ordinances concerning the location and operation of dispensaries, the regulation of medical marijuana and certain findings from federal and state legislation and case law.
The second alternative was a sample ordinance prohibiting land uses inconsistent with federal law — which would act as a ban on dispensaries.
Three people took the podium Tuesday evening during a public hearing regarding the regulation or prohibition of sites for the distribution of medical marijuana.
Rick Morse is the president of the Tulare County chapter of Americans for Safe Access, a non-profit group promoting the safe and legal access to marijuana for therapeutic use.
He said his son was once on a heavy cocktail of prescription drugs called “a chemical straight jacket,” after recovering from a suicide attempt.
“My son decided to detox from the chemical straight jacket,” Morse said. “He has had a meaningful life sense he transferred from the prescription drugs to medical marijuana.”
Councilman Pedro Martinez said he has been actively looking into the subject of medical marijuana and marijuana dispensaries.
“Everywhere I look there are other alternatives to this medication, as you call it,” Martinez said. “I haven’t seen such an overwhelming cry from the community saying we have to have this.”
In 2003, the California Senate passed SB 420 which allows local governments to control sites where the substance may be dispensed to patients and their primary caregivers.
Marijuana remains a controlled substance under federal law.
Lindsay resident, Jose Alvarez, told the council he is interested in operating a dispensary in Porterville.
“I understand this process can take a long time,” Alvarez said. “I also know we can help a lot of people in the area of Porterville.”
Staff requested council members provide direction on how to proceed. The council asked for staff to continue to work on ordinances to regulate dispensaries that can be enacted when marijuana is reclassified by the federal government and deemed legal for medical use.
Contact Sarah Villicana at 784-5000, Ext. 1045, or svillicana@portervillerecorder.com.
—–
Copyright (c) 2007, The Porterville Recorder, Calif.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.