Town Votes To Snuff Marijuana Clinics

[User]

The Yucca Valley Planning Commission this week voted 4-0-1 to prohibit the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries in town. Commissioner Robert Lombardo was absent from the Tuesday meeting. An amendment to Yucca Valley code forbidding the dispensaries will go to the Town Council for a final decision.

Yucca Valley has been under a moratorium against new medical marijuana dispensaries enacted by the Town Council to allow staff and officials to decide whether to allow the businesses at all in town limits.

However, the moratorium allowed Yucca Valley's single dispensary, California Alternative Medicinal Solutions ( CAMS ), to continue providing marijuana because it opened before the moratorium was in place and conformed to regulations in place at the time.

Deputy Town Manager Shane Stueckle found that the CAMS location, next to the Desert Ballet Studio and Yucca Valley Karate, is legal under California law. While the ballet and karate studios' clientele is comprised mainly of children, the businesses are not playgrounds or youth centers, he noted.

* When the Town Council enacted the moratorium, it was under the guidance of attorney Naomi Silvergleid to allow commissioners time to work with Town staff, considering land-use issues, appropriate zoning districts and conforming and non-conforming uses.

However, it didn't appear that the voting commissioners were looking at those conditions on Tuesday night. The information in the agenda packet consisted primarily of a survey of 49 jurisdictions in San Bernardino and Riverside counties to ascertain what medical marijuana ordinances, if any, they had in place.

After asking Stueckle a few questions to get up to speed, the commissioners opened the meeting for public comment. Fifteen speakers were in favor of medical marijuana and dispensaries, one saw the need for more regulation if allowed in Town and one speaker continued to vehemently oppose dispensaries and medical marijuana.

Newly-appointed Commissioner Margo Sturges held to her previous position as a private citizen and called it "a question of compassion" as she stated her belief that medical marijuana is beneficial in some cases. But, she added, "Yucca Valley is not the place for dispensaries.

We're not equipped to handle dispensaries and co-ops legally," said Sturges. "Think of our children and the examples we're setting for them."

Sturges also said she was glad patients will be able to get marijuana from Palm Springs dispensaries. "I will personally guarantee that I will try hard to secure transportation, or arrange with help for transportation," she pledged.

The Palms Springs City Council voted to allow two marijuana dispensaries on Wednesday night.

Commission Vice Chairman Shannon Goodpaster admitted the issue was difficult, with lots of factors involved. "Considerable reports find a use for medical marijuana," he said. But he also thought dispensaries might not be appropriate in Yucca Valley, or be in the town's best interests. "This area is not good for CAMS right now," Goodpaster said.

Dawn Rowe, also newly appointed to the commission, reasoned, "If you can grow your own, we don't need dispensaries, and there is no need to drive down the hill."

Chairman Dennis McKoy was brief. "From my perspective, I'm not in favor."

Lori Green, the one voice opposing marijuana among the public speakers, was weeping as the commissioners voted to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries in town.

This is a victory for our kids," said the anti-marijuana activist, who was against the proximity of the dispensary with the ballet and karate studios.

D.J. Ross, the business owner and spokesperson for CAMS, saw another side of the issue. "The kids lose," he said. "The largest segment of our clientele is over 60 years old, and drug dealers don't care who they sell to."

Ross said in the nine months that CAMS has been in operation next to the studios, "No parents have come to us and said their children were in danger."

He pointed out the CAMS building is heavily equipped with security features and locks, minors are not allowed inside and cameras are trained over the parking lot.

Ross said so far, all his business' services, including the indigent program for members who cannot afford medication or who need transportation, are still in effect.

Our attorneys are working," he added.


News Hawk: User: http://www.420magazine.com/
Source: Hi-Desert Star (Yucca Valley, CA)
Copyright: 2009 Hi Desert Star
Contact: editor@hidesertstar.com
Website: Hi-Desert Star > Front
Author: Rebecca Unger