Pubdate: Mon, 15 Jul 2013
Source: Manteca Bulletin (CA)
Copyright: 2013 Manteca Bulletin
Contact:  http://www.mantecabulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3670
Author: Vince Rembulat

RIPON MAY BAN MEDICINAL POT DISPENSARIES

Ripon hopes to be among the California cities banning medicinal 
marijuana dispensaries.

At Tuesday's Ripon City Council meeting, elected leaders will look at 
a first reading and review the introduction of such an ordinance 
during the 7 p.m. open session.

The ordinance reads: "The Ripon Municipal Code to prohibit the 
establishment of and the operation of Medical Marijuana dispensaries, 
cooperatives and collectives in the City of Ripon."

This ordinance also falls in line with the recent California Supreme 
Court ruling that gives cities and counties the right to band medical 
marijuana dispensaries within their borders, despite the existence of 
a state law that protects patients who use the drug.

Ripon, however, does allow those with the medicinal marijuana 
identification card to cultivate and possess the drug.

Council, a few months ago, updated the ordinance - in accordance with 
the guidelines established by the California Environmental Quality 
Act - that called for grow structures to be no more than a 
120-square-foot detached, fully enclosed, and secured structure.

The structure is required to be separate from the house, secured, and 
locked, containing up to six mature plants, 12 immature plants, and 8 
ounces of processed marijuana.

Police said that cardholders are often those battling cancer, 
suffering from glaucoma and other ailments, critically ill or dying.

In other agenda items:

* Council members could adopt the development agreement between the 
city and Central Valley Executive Builders involving the Cornerstone 
II project.

* They're scheduled to award the contract to Maggiora Bros. Drilling 
Inc. for construction of water Well No. 19.

* Elected officials will look at presenting a proclamation to Johnie 
Thomas recognizing his 100th birthday.

* Council could approve the update to the City of Ripon Information 
Technology security policy regarding electronic records retention, 
mobile devices and email.

The session will be held inside the Council Chamber, 259 N. Wilma St.

For more information, call Ripon City Hall at 209-599-2108 or log on 
to www.cityofripon.org .
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom