Pubdate: Tue, 20 Nov 2007
Source: Monterey County Herald (CA)
Copyright: 2007 Monterey County Herald
Contact:  http://www.montereyherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/273
Author: Claudia Melendez Salinas, Herald Salinas Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/dispensaries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

SALINAS COUNCIL TO DISCUSS POT LAW

Although the ban on medical marijuana dispensaries in Salinas is a 
foregone conclusion, if last week's debate on the topic is any 
indication, the City Council is in for another lively discussion.

For the sixth time this year, the council will debate the pros and 
cons of allowing medical pot shops to be set up in the city, an issue 
that's strongly opposed by three council members and Mayor Dennis 
Donohue, and has been consistently backed by the rest of the council.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. today at City Hall.

But the ordinance proposed by the Police Department and the city 
attorney's office goes further than banning the shops: if it passes, 
medical marijuana dispensaries would be considered a "public 
nuisance" and its operators guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a 
fine of up to $1,000 and 180 days in jail.

"That's ridiculous," said Councilwoman Jyl Lutes, who supports the 
use of marijuana for medical purposes. "I don't know why we'll go that far."

Police wrote to the council that the ordinance does not prohibit 
"qualified patients" from possessing the drug. But because 
dispensaries are not "primary caregivers," and only patients or their 
caregivers are allowed under California law to possess the substance, 
Salinas would be colliding with federal laws if pot shops were set 
up, administrators say.

Salinas would be the third city in Monterey County to ban them, 
following Marina and Seaside. Proponents of using pot to alleviate 
symptoms of terminal diseases such as AIDS and cancer say elderly 
patients can't drive long distances to get the drug.

Lawrence Samuels, chairman of the Foundation to End Drug Unfairness 
Policy, a local pro-medical marijuana group, said his organization 
will try to convince other municipalities to change their rules.

"We'll keep trying in some of the other cities," he said. "Hopefully, 
we'll get a clinic to take (older) people along the coast." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake