Pubdate: Fri, 04 Jun 2010
Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA)
Copyright: 2010 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Contact: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/submitletters
Website: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/394
Author: Shanna Mccord

SANTA CRUZ POT SHOPS MAY GET OK TO OPEN ON SUNDAYS

SANTA CRUZ - The two medical marijuana shops in town  could be allowed
to stay open more than some standard  pharmacies.

The city Planning Commission voted 4-3 on Thursday in  favor of
amending the zoning ordinance related to  medical marijuana
dispensaries to expand operating days  to include Sunday, which would
permit the drug to be  sold 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Commissioners Scott Daly, Rod Quartararo and Mari  Tustin voted
against the proposed 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday  operations.

"It just seems like a lot of time. I can't even go to  the dump on
Sundays," Quartararo said. "CVS, for  example, doesn't even make those
kind of hours." The  national chain opens its Front Street pharmacy 10
  a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and 8 a.m.-9 p.m.  Monday
through Friday.

Planning officials said they don't expect Sunday  business at medical
marijuana dispensaries to impact  residential uses because the
dispensaries must be  located more than 50 feet from a home.

"Staff is also of the opinion that allowing  dispensaries to operate
on Sundays will provide a  public benefit to patients who may have no
other time  available to visit the dispensary," planner Mike Ferry
said in a report to the commission.

Scott Wade of Greenway Compassionate Relief Inc., the  Dubois Street
dispensary that opened in 2006, said the  extra day and hours are
designed to benefit patients  who can't access the shop at other times
because of  work or other reasons.

Wade, who asked the City Council in April to expand  operating hours,
said there is "high demand" for the  dispensary to be open Sundays.

"If we can help even just one patient on Sunday, it's  worth it for us
to stay open," he said. "It's all about  being there for the patients."

The City Council must approve the planning commission's
recommendation before the amendment goes into effect. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D