Pubdate: Wed, 08 Jan 2014
Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)
Copyright: 2014 The Press Democrat
Contact:  http://www.pressdemocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/348
Author: Kevin McCallum

SANTA ROSA EASES RULES ON MEDICAL POT

Santa Rosa relaxed its restrictions on medical marijuana dispensaries 
Tuesday, eliminating rules that advocates said were outdated and 
limited patients' ability to obtain their cannabis locally.

The changes, which included elimination of patient caps, expansion of 
hours of operation, and allowing dispensaries to sell pipes and other 
devices used to ingest marijuana, were approved by the council unanimously.

"Times sure do change," said Councilman Ernesto Olivares, a retired 
police lieutenant. "I couldn't imagine back in 1979 when I started 
working for the Santa Rosa Police Department that I'd be here voting 
for this, to be honest with you. But here we are."

Advocates of the changes extolled the virtues of marijuana as a 
medicine and noted that the 500-patient cap on dispensaries forced 
some people to travel outside the city to refill their stashes.

City Attorney Caroline Fowler said when the city enacted its 
ordinance eight years ago, it was having problems with one 
dispensary. But she said the city has had a good relationship with 
the two dispensaries currently operating, Peace in Medicine on North 
Dutton Avenue and Sonoma Patient Group on Cleveland Avenue.

The city will continue to have a limit of two dispensaries in the 
city, though the city manager will have discretion to increase the 
number in the future.

The changes also increase the length of permits from one year to two.

Councilwoman Erin Carlstrom, who served on the subcommittee 
supporting the changes with Olivares and Gary Wysocky, said it was 
all about patient access for her. "I think it's incumbent on us to 
make it easier for people who are sick to get access to their 
medicine here in Santa Rosa," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom