Pubdate: Tue, 19 Dec 2006
Source: Tri-Valley Herald  (Pleasanton, CA)
Copyright: 2006sANG Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/742
Author: Matt O'Brien, Staff Writer

SECOND HAYWARD MARIJUANA CLUB MAY BLOW OUT OF TOWN

HAYWARD -- A week after federal agents put a quick end  to one 
downtown Hayward medical marijuana clinic, the  Hayward City Council 
will decide today what to do about  the only other pot club in town.

The council is scheduled to vote on whether to extend  its three-year 
operating agreement with the Hayward  Patients Resource Center.

The agreement with the Foothill Boulevard dispensary  expires Dec. 
31, and the club would be forced to close  if the council does not 
extend the agreement.

City staffers are recommending that the council  authorize a 
"limited" extension lasting 90 days. Tom  Lemos, owner of the club, 
said that's because the city  wants him to use that time to find a new home.

"I have 90 days to move, basically, because otherwise I  have to 
close," Lemos said. "It has to be in Hayward.  We're doing our best. 
I can't say I'm totally  optimistic."

City Manager Jesus Armas has said the construction of  the new 
12-screen cinema complex at the corner of B  Street and Foothill 
Boulevard is one "compelling  reason" why having pot clubs nearby is 
not a good idea.

"This is just to keep everybody focused," Armas said of  tonight's 
meeting. "They want to be able to continue to  do what they do while 
searching for another location."

Armas said that having pot clubs downtown "is not  appropriate" 
anymore, given the expected increase of  pedestrian traffic in coming 
years. However, he also  said the council hasn't really decided 
whether anywhere  else in the city would be appropriate.

Many council members have expressed general support for  the club, 
saying it has been following the city's rules  while the neighboring 
Local Patients Cooperative  apparently was not.

Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and  Internal Revenue 
Service raided the Local Patients  Cooperative last Tuesday and 
arrested its owners on  charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana 
and the  distribution of marijuana. The raided club was directly 
across the street from where the cinema is being built.

Lemos' club is a block away.

Lemos has distanced himself from his embattled  neighbor, saying his 
own clinic has been following the  letter of local law by keeping 
only a minimal amount of  marijuana on the premises at any given time.

Today's meeting begins at 8 p.m. at Hayward City Hall,  Council 
Chambers, 777 B St.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine