Pubdate: Mon, 01 Feb 2016 Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA) Copyright: 2016 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: Ashiah Scharaga CHICO COUNCIL TO DISCUSS MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGULATIONS Chico - In light of recent state medical marijuana legislation, the Chico City Council will discuss a policy for regulating medical marijuana deliveries and dispensaries Tuesday. The ordinance presented clearly prohibits deliveries and dispensaries, whether fixed or mobile. Any operations in violation would be declared a public nuisance and be subject to administrative fines and penalties, if the ordinance passes. The Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown October 2015, stipulates that cities that do not expressly prohibit the delivery of medical marijuana in their jurisdiction by March 1 will have to accept deliveries from state-licensed dispensaries. Medical marijuana deliveries and dispensaries are currently prohibited in Chico only because they are not specifically permitted in the city's zoning regulations. If a similar use determination is made by the city's Community Development Director, they could be allowed. If the city wants to bar medical marijuana delivery services within Chico and avoid accepting state-licensed deliveries, it needs to adopt an ordinance clearly banning deliveries and dispensaries. City Attorney Vincent Ewing said in the staff report that adding these provisions "strengthens the city's current regulations" and makes them clear to the public. It enhances the ability of police and code enforcement officers to stop prohibited commercial medical marijuana activities, according to the report. Of note is that Chico is not in jeopardy of losing its independent cultivation licensing authority under state law. It has current regulations that prohibit marijuana cultivation in all city zoning districts aside from residential districts with special conditions (Municipal Code Chapter 19.77). The March deadline will be revoked immediately if AB21 is approved by Governor Brown, as the urgency clause has already passed through both houses. Also on the agenda: Discussion of the distribution of the $277.35 raised through the red top parking meter donation program downtown. City staff recommends the funds be distributed evenly to the Torres Shelter, Jesus Center and Stairways Programming. The council will also discuss future disbursements of collected donations. The council will weigh in on some of the city's 289 parcels. Those designated of interest to council when the report was requested in March 2015 include the vacant space between Bruce and Humboldt roads, 1413 Salem Street, Airport facilities and Bidwell Ranch. A status update on the financial condition of Torres Shelter from Executive Director Brad Montgomery. The shelter announced Tuesday that it was in danger of closing its doors in six to eight weeks. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom