Pubdate: Fri, 18 May 2012 Source: Times-Herald, The (Vallejo, CA) Copyright: 2012 Paul Armentano Contact: http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/993 Author: Paul Armentano VALLEJO CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS ON MARIJUANA Let me get this straight. The City Attorney's office is recommending that the city not regulate Vallejo's existing medical marijuana dispensaries, despite a voter mandate to do so, because it believes that the case law regarding the legality of these operations remains unsettled ("Vallejo Council urged to avoid setting pot dispensary regulations," May 6) Yet, the Vallejo Police Department and county prosecutors continue to bring charges against these same operations -- alleging that the law is clear and that these facilities are operating illegally. So which is it? If the city council is waiting for guidance from the California Supreme Court regarding the legality of these operations, then why isn't VPD taking a similar wait-and-see approach, particularly in light of a recent acquittal of a Vacaville storefront dispensary owner? Why is it, that months after the first bust of a local dispensary, we still have no official explanation from VPD regarding why these efforts are suddenly taking place now -- at the same time the city is taxing the proceeds from these very same operations? Does VPD believe that there are "good actors" and "bad actors" and that their efforts are solely targeting the latter? If so, then what criteria is VPD using to distinguish one from the other, and why haven't they made these criteria public (or to the dispensary owners)? Or is VPD simply targeting all dispensaries? If so, then why not admit it? Why has the city council not yet demanded an answer to these questions? The city council can't have it both ways. If the council truly believes that Vallejo's dispensaries are illicit, then they should stop collecting tax dollars from their transactions immediately. If the council believes that they are not, then they should demand the VPD to back off. And if the city council and the City Attorney's Office are unsure one way or the other then they -- and VPD -- should halt taking any further actions until the state Supreme Court provides clarification. Paul Armentano Vallejo - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D