Pubdate: Wed, 07 Sep 2011 Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA) Copyright: 2011 Chico Enterprise-Record Contact: http://www.chicoer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861 Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority Author: Katy Sweeny Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries COUNCIL REPEALS POT DISPENSARY ORDINANCE CHICO - Council members admitted the medical marijuana dispensary ordinance they had passed was faulty and voted Tuesday night to repeal it. The 5-1 vote was the third and final step, for now, to prohibit dispensaries in the city. Councilman Scott Gruendl dissented. Councilwoman Mary Flynn was absent. On July 5, council members voted 4-3 in support of allowing two medical marijuana dispensaries in the city though the mayor had received a letter from U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner stating the ordinance violates federal drug laws. Mayor Ann Schwab and Councilmen Bob Evans and Mark Sorensen voted against allowing the dispensaries. City staff met with U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner on July 14 and learned they and other employees along with council members could face federal prosecution for facilitating dispensaries. City Manager Dave Burkland then recommended council members repeal the ordinance. On Aug. 2, the council voted 4-3 to direct staff to prepare the ordinance repealing the ordinance that would have allowed for two dispensaries in the city. Council Members Mary Flynn, Scott Gruendl and Andy Holcombe dissented. Two weeks later, the council voted 5-2 to introduce the repealing ordinance. Holcombe switched his vote. Holcombe said Tuesday he supports a land-use ordinance, but warned that no matter what it will break federal law. "Doing something because the U.S. attorney says we should do it is absolutely wrong," he said. Council members, including Holcombe, asked city staff to bring a new dispensary ordinance to them soon. City attorney Lori Barker said she thinks she will have a dispensary ordinance ready for council consideration in less than six months. Three members of the public addressed the council Tuesday night during the public hearing. Dmitri Jeziorski said he thinks a vote in support of dispensaries does not warrant council members' prosecution. "That seems un-American to me," he said. The ordinance allowing residential grows outdoors and indoors with restrictions remains intact and was not repealed. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom