Pubdate: Wed, 13 Jun 2007
Source: Desert Sun, The (Palm Springs, CA)
Copyright: 2007 The Desert Sun
Contact: http://www.thedesertsun.com/opinion/lettersubmitter.shtml
Website: http://www.thedesertsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1112
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Author: Marcel Honore
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

LA QUINTA COMMISSION SUPPORTS POT DISPENSARY BAN

The La Quinta Planning Commission voted 4-0 Tuesday  recommending 
that medical marijuana dispensaries be  barred under La Quinta zoning.

Commissioner Rick Daniels was absent. The City Council  first voted 
June 5 to declare the dispensaries a  "public nuissance," which 
prohibits them, but it must  also update the zoning code to reflect 
that policy.

There are no dispensaries in La Quinta, nor were there  any 
applications. State law permits the seriously ill  to acquire medical 
marijuana, while federal law  prohibits it.

City officials have called the ban a preemptive policy  measure to 
prevent ambiguity, or confusion among those  who might apply to open 
a dispensary.

Some California cities, whether they have dispensary  licenses 
pending, opt to enact a moratorium before an  outright ban. The city 
council is expected to visit the  commission's recommendation during 
its next meeting, on  June 19.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman