Pubdate: Sun, 27 Apr 2014
Source: Santa Monica Daily Press (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Santa Monica Daily Press
Contact:  http://www.smdp.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4159
Author: David Mark Simpson

COUNCIL WON'T BACK STATE POT REGULATION BILL

CITY HALL -- If City Council's recent debate over a state medical 
marijuana bill is any indication of the dispensary discourse to come, 
expect references to the Venice boardwalk and '60s cop shows.

Council declined a request from Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline 
Seabrooks to back a bill that would impose greater regulations on 
medicinal marijuana in the state.

City officials and Seabrooks recommended council throw its weight 
behind Senate Bill 1262, which would, among other things, reinforce 
local control of medical marijuana and impose tighter regulations on 
doctors who recommend its usage.

Councilmember Kevin McKeown requested that the item, which was posted 
on the consent calendar, be discussed further. It ultimately failed 
in a 4-to-2 vote.

Councilmember Bob Holbrook, the only member who has stated outright 
his plan to oppose medical marijuana dispensaries in the bay city, 
was absent from the meeting.

The Zoning Ordinance, which regulates land use throughout the city, 
is currently being rewritten. Currently at the Planning Commission 
level, it's expected to go before council in the fall. Medical 
marijuana dispensaries have not been allowed in the city in the past, 
but elected officials are considering it in the Zoning Ordinance. The 
Planning Commission voted to support the allowance of the 
dispensaries, despite contrary recommendations from the police and 
city officials.

McKeown feared support of the bill would prejudice council's future 
decision on dispensaries and noted that the point may soon be moot.

"I think, in California, within two years, we're going to see the 
legalization of marijuana," he said. "I don't want to put ourselves 
on the wrong side of history here by focusing on the medical marijuana issue."

Seabrooks noted that the bill's passage would not impact council's 
ability to decide the dispensary matter. Neither would it impact the 
legalization of marijuana.

"This isn't to say that should decriminalization become a part of the 
conversation that circumstances shouldn't change," she said. "What it 
does is allow (City Hall) to implement a series of regulations that 
monitor such businesses as to time, place and manner, which is 
consistent with other businesses that open in the community."

McKeown characterized the bill's support of local control as "largely 
unnecessary."

"We don't need a state law to say that we have the ability to say no 
to medical marijuana dispensaries in our city," he said. "That's 
already been determined by a court."

McKeown made reference to the television show "The Untouchables," 
which followed the exploits of a police officer attempting to quash 
the notorious Chicago bootlegger Al Capone.

"It was only later in my life that I realized the whole problem," he 
said. "Al Capone was an incorrigible criminal, but bootlegging only 
became possible because of Prohibition."

Councilmember Gleam Davis opposed the measure, agreeing with many of 
McKeown's points. She also agreed with some parts of the bill, 
including the requirement that a doctor and patient be in the same 
room when the former writes a prescription for the latter.

Davis called it "somewhat disturbing" when medical pot hawkers pitch 
the sale of marijuana to bystanders on the Venice boardwalk.

Councilmember Ted Winterer opposed the measure, noting that he didn't 
want to send a signal either way before the dispensary debate.

Mayor Pam O'Connor favored the measure, claiming that the allowance 
of pot smoking could be considered a double-standard in a city that 
cracks down on cigarette smokers.

Mayor Pro Tempore Terry O'Day was the other supporter, stating that 
regulation could help make the coming dispensary debate more manageable.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom