Pubdate: Sun, 27 Feb 2011
Source: Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA)
Copyright: 2011 The Press-Enterprise Company
Contact: http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/letters_form.html
Website: http://www.pe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/830
Author: Erin Waldner
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries

BEAUMONT: BAN ON NONPROFIT POT SHOPS PROPOSED

Medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives will be prohibited in 
Beaumont if a proposed ordinance is adopted by the City Council.

The ordinance, which is on the agenda for Tuesday's Beaumont City 
Council meeting, also would allow the city to regulate the 
establishment of collectives and cooperatives if the courts determine 
it is unconstitutional to ban them.

A staff report states: "The Ordinance is, essentially, two parts: the 
first part is a total ban on dispensaries and the second part is a 
set of regulations that would automatically take effect if the ban is 
struck down by a Court."

Medical marijuana dispensaries, typically for-profit operations, 
already are prohibited in Beaumont; the City Council adopted a ban in 
April 2009. The council subsequently enacted a temporary moratorium 
on not-for-profit co-ops and cooperatives. The moratorium will expire 
May 19, which is why the council is considering a permanent ban.

If the courts eventually decide cities cannot ban medical marijuana 
establishments, the ordinance also outlines out how the city would 
regulate them. No more than two would be allowed to operate at any time.

Two kinds of permits would be required. One would be a 
conditional-use permit, which would limit where they could be located 
and would allow for municipal supervision. The other would be an 
operator's permit that would require the facilities to do such things 
as test their marijuana for contaminants and provide the police chief 
access to their records.

Nancy Gall was the one Beaumont councilmember to vote against the ban 
on medical marijuana dispensaries when it came up for a vote. She 
said at the time she had a problem banning something some Beaumont 
residents needed.

She also voted against extending the moratorium on co-ops and 
collectives, which the council did in July 2010. Staff members told 
the council the one-year extension would give them time to research 
the issue further and bring back options for the council's consideration.

Councilman Jeff Fox said at the time he wanted to know more about 
medical marijuana.

"I'm not a doctor," he said at the meeting.

Reach Erin Waldner at 951-763-3473 or IF YOU GO

The Beaumont City Council is set to address medical marijuana 
collectives and cooperatives.

When: 6 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Beaumont Civic Center, 550 E. Sixth St.

Information: An agenda is posted at www.ci.beaumont.ca.us
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom