Pubdate: Fri, 20 Apr 2007
Source: Contra Costa Times (CA)
Copyright: 2007 Knight Ridder
Contact:  http://www.contracostatimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/96
Author: Meera Pal
Cited: Americans for Safe Access http://www.americansforsafeaccess.org
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Americans+for+Safe+Access

COUNCIL DELAYS MARIJUANA DEBATE

Pleasanton: More Information Sought on Dispensary Ban Issue

For the second time this month, the Pleasanton City Council decided 
to continue its discussion of an ordinance that would ban the 
operation of medical marijuana dispensaries in town.

City Manager Nelson Fialho said city staff needs more time to gather 
information requested by the council.

"We did not have enough time between the last meeting and this 
meeting to incorporate (the information) into the public record or 
the staff report," Fialho said at Tuesday night's council meeting.

He noted that the city's moratorium on marijuana dispensaries will 
remain in effect. That moratorium is due to expire in August.

The proposed ordinance will most likely be brought back before the 
council in early June, Fialho said.

At the council's April 3 meeting, Councilman Matt Sullivan made a 
request for additional time to consider the medical marijuana 
dispensary ordinance.

Sullivan said he has been doing his own research into how 
dispensaries affect communities.

"The last time we looked at this, the staff presented all the horror 
stories and the bad experiences," he said. "But I felt like there was 
maybe another side of the story, where it has been successful."

Sullivan said he would like to make a medical marijuana dispensary 
work in the Tri-Valley, if possible. He suggested partnering with 
neighboring communities or the county to run a pilot program.

However, Police Chief Michael Fraser and City Attorney Michael Roush 
are urging the council to adopt the ban. In their staff report, 
Fraser and Roush wrote about armed robberies, burglaries and vagrancy 
in other communities with marijuana dispensaries. They also pointed 
to cases of dispensary patients or others selling marijuana to people 
who aren't legally entitled to use it.

Sullivan said he looked at reports from Americans for Safe Access, a 
group that promotes safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic 
use. He learned about communities such as Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz 
that have successful dispensaries. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake