Despite concerns about a land-use ordinance banning illegal businesses in Woodland, the City Council still unanimously approved a new law that prevents storefront medical marijuana dispensaries. Acting Tuesday night as well, the council also approved a solar panel project for the roof of the police station, and plans for an on-ramp at 1-5 and County Road 102. The council also heard presentations and posed questions regarding an ordinance to prevent smoking on library grounds, and discussed forming a new community committee to be involved in water rate increases and community outreach. [continues 403 words]
Despite concerned about a land-use ordinance banning illegal businesses in Woodland, the City Council still unanimously approved a new law which prevents store-front medical marijuana dispensaries. Acting Tuesday night as well, the council also approved a solar panel project for the roof of the police station, and plans for an on-ramp at 1-5 and County Road 102. The council also heard presentations and posed questions regarding an ordinance to prevent smoking on library grounds, and a new community committee to be involved in water rate increase and community outreach. [continues 381 words]
On Tuesday the Woodland City Council will vote on an ordinance regarding zoning of illegal land uses. Specifically, the ordinance would prevent storefront medical marijuana dispensaries from obtaining a business license in Woodland. In 2007 Woodland Police and Yolo County Narcotics Enforcement Team raided a Woodland marijuana dispensary, arresting the owner and her husband. In October, the District Attorney's office dropped the felony charges on dispensary owner, Cheri Barr. The question of medical marijuana legality in California has been fuzzy since Proposition 215 passed in 1996. [continues 690 words]
Regardless of what action it took last night Woodland's City Council will soon have to decide how to deal with medical marijuana dispensaries. The issue is already becoming more prevalent in surrounding Northern California communities. Acting just last week, for example, the city of Dixon voted against any dispensaries whatsoever. Other cities, notably San Francisco, have permitted so-called "Cannabis clubs" for those with medical needs. On Tuesday night, the council was to consider a temporary urgency ordinance preventing the establishment and operation of medical marijuana dispensaries. Results were unavailable by deadline. [continues 440 words]
City to vote on a temporary ban on medical pot dispensaries Tonight the City Council will vote on an urgency ordinance for a temporary moratorium to prevent the establishment and operation of medical marijuana dispensaries. The moratorium, if passed, lasts 45 days, but can be extended to ten months and 15 days, and as long as a year. The urgency was triggered by a business license application from Flash Gordon of Fairfield. "I have several friends who benefit from the use of medical marijuana where as other drugs, like Oxycontin, didn't provide relief," Gordon told The Democrat Tuesday. [continues 325 words]
The City Council on Tuesday unanimously passed a temporary ordinance that prevents the establishment and operation of medical marijuana dispensaries. The moratorium lasts for 45 days, but can be extended for up to two years. Dixon passed a similar moratorium last month. Sacramento and San Francisco have been more friendly, allowing dispensaries and cannabis clubs. The staff report sited many reasons for the moratorium, including studies that show a rise in crime surrounding marijuana dispensaries. In the City Council meeting, City Attorney Andrew Morris said the moratorium will buy the city some time to decide how to regulate medical cannabis. [continues 393 words]
