27/06/2007 00:00:00
US: More cities push to nix medical pot shops
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YUCAIPA - Another inland town moved closer to snuffing out medicinal
marijuana Monday when the City Council approved staffers' plans to craft
an ordinance prohibiting medical cannabis dispensaries.
Yucaipa's not the only East Valley city addressing the marijuana issue
this week. In Redlands on Tuesday the Planning Commission voted
unanimously to pass along a recommendation to the City Council to put an
anti-cannabis law on the books.
California cities face a contradiction between state and federal laws
governing marijuana. The state's voters cast ballots to allow the use of
medical cannabis when they passed Proposition 215 in 1996, but Uncle Sam
has since maintained federal policy that classifies marijuana as an
illegal, controlled substance.
John McMains, Yucaipa's community development director, recommended that
Yucaipa adopt a policy that would require dispensaries to comply with
both federal and state laws regarding medicinal marijuana, basically
meaning that dispensaries could only be allowed in the city if federal
law changes.
A new law "would effectively eliminate the establishment of medical
marijuana facilities in the community," McMains told council members.
The council voted 4-0 to authorize staffers to craft a new law
containing McMains' proposal. Mayor Dick Riddell was not at the meeting.
Councilwoman Denise Hoyt suggested at Monday's meeting that if federal
medical marijuana law ever changes, cannabis would likely be given to
patients at pharmacies, thus eliminating any need for the
marijuana-specific dispensaries.
"That's where it belongs," she said.
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the federal government's power to
enforce its marijuana laws despite state laws such as those in
California. However, the court has never struck down Proposition 215.
Redlands Community Development Director Jeff Shaw said in a phone
message that federal prohibitions against medical marijuana are a key
reason officials in that city are also moving against dispensaries.
Medical cannabis advocates say the drug can be beneficial for patients
with cancer and other serious diseases. The Drug Enforcement
Administration argues that drug traffickers use California's medical
marijuana law as a shield for law-breaking.
San Bernardino County cities Ontario, Grand Terrace, Upland and
Montclair have banned marijuana dispensaries. Fontana planning
commissioners recommended a ban earlier this month.
Staff writer Colleen Mensching contributed to this report.
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_6237794
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12637
Author:
San Bernardino Sun via UKCIA
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