Pubdate: Wed, 16 May 2007
Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2007 San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Contact: http://www.sgvtribune.com/writealetter
Website: http://www.sgvtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3725
Author: Alison Hewitt, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLINIC BAN WEIGHED

San Dimas Planning Commission To Consider Issue

SAN DIMAS - City staff are recommending a permanent ban on medical 
marijuana dispensaries, less than three weeks after the City Council 
approved a temporary ban.

The San Dimas Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the 
recommendation at tonight's commission meeting.

The unusually fast turn- around for the decision is disappointing, 
said Chris Fusco, a spokesman for the medical marijuana advocacy 
group, Americans for Safe Access.

"It shows they didn't put much thought or research into it," Fusco 
said, noting that many cities have short-term moratoriums prohibiting 
the dispensaries. "One thing that we've noticed is that the quote- 
unquote 'moratoriums' occurring throughout Southern California are, 
in fact, de facto bans."

Dan Coleman, San Dimas director of development services, said 
studying how other cities confronted the issue made the city's decision easier.

The main concern, he added, is that even though the state legalized 
medical marijuana and marijuana dispensaries, the drug is illegal 
under federal law.

"California state courts and the California attorney general have 
decided that the state regulations supercede the federal 
regulations," Coleman said. "But it's the prudent course of action 
for the city to take, to abide by federal law."

Coleman said staff also had concerns about dispensaries attracting crime.

He referred to reports by police agencies in other cities that 
attempt to show a link between dispensaries and crime.

The reports included examples such as dispensaries or their patrons 
being robbed, or of patients reselling marijuana to people without 
prescriptions.

The bulk of the examples dealt with homes being robbed, not dispensaries.

Fusco pointed to a 2006 report by Americans for Safe Access stating 
that dispensaries reduced crime.

Regulating dispensaries resulted in "a decrease in criminal activity" 
and made neighborhoods safer, a handful of Northern California city 
officials said in the report.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman