Pubdate: Wed, 30 Jul 2008
Source: Malibu Times, The (CA)
Copyright: 2008 The Malibu Times
Contact:  http://www.malibutimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1363
Author: Jonathan Friedman, Assistant Editor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/dispensaries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

MALIBU OKs TWO MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

No More Medical Dispensaries Can Set Up Shop Within City Limits.

The Malibu City Council on Monday approved an ordinance limiting the 
number of dispensaries in Malibu to two, with PCH Collective and 
Green Angel getting the first opportunity to apply for 
conditional-use permits to be the city's two medical marijuana facilities.

There was no previous city law on marijuana dispensaries. The council 
was presented with two ordinance proposals on Monday, one to ban all 
medical marijuana facilities within Malibu, and the other to allow 
three dispensaries in the city. All council members said three would 
be too many.

"We have limited resources with our code enforcement and these are 
facilities that we are going to want to look at very closely and keep 
track of," City Councilmember Sharon Barovsky said. "And with our 
resources, I would hate to see more than two."

The ordinance must be approved on a second reading at an Aug. 11 
meeting and then will go into effect 30 days afterward. A number of 
regulations were approved for the dispensaries, including buffers 
from schools and requirements for security. The businesses must 
obtain conditional-use permits to operate. The existing dispensaries 
have 90 days to apply for one without competition.

The council heard from several medical marijuana users and advocates 
prior to its vote. The speakers urged the council not to choose the 
option to ban the facilities. Steven Berkowitz, an attorney for PCH 
Collective, read a note from a neighbor praising the facility as not 
being a nuisance.

Kerry Fried, a medical marijuana user who has cancer, said PCH 
Collective is clean and safe.

"It is very safe and secure," she said. "There are very normal people 
who go through there. I think there is a huge myth around medical 
marijuana that needs to be dispelled."

Councilmember John Sibert spoke about two relatives with cancer who, 
when they were alive, could only be relieved of pain with marijuana.

Barovsky said, "I wish this were more closely regulated. I have a 
feeling prescriptions are being written for fun. But I also know 
there are cases of people who really need this."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake