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Newport Beach Takes Steps to Block New Marijuana Law
Pubdate: Fri, 13 Nov 2015
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Los Angeles Times
Contact: http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Hannah Fry
NEWPORT BEACH TAKES STEPS TO BLOCK NEW MARIJUANA LAW
The City Council OKs a Draft Ordinance to Ban Even Delivery of Regulated Pot.
Marijuana growing, dispensaries and delivery will be illegal in
Newport Beach under a new ordinance.
The Newport Beach City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to
approve the first reading of an ordinance banning the cultivation,
processing, distribution and delivery of cannabis in the city.
Newport Beach's municipal code previously did not address medical
marijuana, although dispensaries have not been allowed to operate in
the city, according to City Manager Dave Kiff. While there are no
brick-and-mortar pot dispensaries operating in the city, several
online services say they deliver marijuana to people in Newport Beach.
The ban is in response to the state's Medical Marijuana Regulation
and Safety Act, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Oct. 9. The
act, which becomes effective Jan. 1, will create California's first
statewide licensing and operating rules for pot growers,
manufacturers of cannabis products and retail outlets since state
voters legalized medical marijuana nearly 20 years ago.
The act also states that unless cities take immediate action to enact
rules or bans for medical marijuana in their areas, the state will
become the sole authority for licensing and regulation, noted Newport
Beach Mayor Ed Selich.
In 1996, voters approved Proposition 215, which allows seriously ill
Californians under the care of a doctor to legally possess, use and
cultivate marijuana for medical use.
In 2003, the state Legislature adopted the Medical Marijuana Program,
which allowed patients to associate collectively to cultivate
marijuana for medical purposes.
Several neighboring cities have struggled for years over whether to
allow medical pot shops.
According to a Newport Beach staff report, several California cities
have reported offensive odors, illegal sales and distribution,
trespassing, theft, violent robberies, fire hazards and other
problems related to the cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana.
In a letter to the City Council, Joseph Stack wrote about the
benefits medical marijuana had on an ill family member living in another city.
"She has been able to get off a number of medications that had much
worse side effects," he wrote. He cautioned the council to "keep
those people in mind when you consider our ordinances."
"I am all in favor of protecting the community from drug abuse, and I
wouldn't advocate opening up a dispensary on every corner, but I am
pretty sure there are residents in our city that can't get out of the
house and have their prescription medications delivered to their
home," Stack wrote. "It seems like there should be some way for
legitimate patients who benefit from medical marijuana to obtain and
use it in our city in a medically responsible way."
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