Council Vote Advances Ban on Pot Dispensaries

[Ganjarden]

The City Council's second reading of an ordinance banning medical marijuana dispensaries in the city prompted at least one resident to loudly express his disappointment Wednesday night.

“Shame on you,” Randy Whiting of Cathedral City said as he left the council meeting, after hearing council members pass the second reading with a 3 to 2 vote.

Whiting spoke earlier in the meeting, defending the use of medical marijuana.

“It's time to make it available,” he said. “It's to do something for the benefit of everyone.”

The ordinance declares establishing, maintaining or operating a medical marijuana dispensary is a “public nuisance” and an “unlawful use” in Cathedral City.

Council members also on Wednesday voted 3 to 2 on the first reading of a companion ordinance which bans medical marijuana dispensaries in any city zone.

Councilmen Greg Pettis and Paul Marchand voted against both ordinances.

Marchand said banning medical marijuana dispensaries in the city will drive people to buy marijuana underground.

“It will not be relegated. It will not be safe,” said Marchand, who added that the council was writing off those who would like to buy their medicinal marijuana safely.

However, Mayor Pro Tem Charles “Bud” England pointed out that residents can go to Palm Springs to buy medical marijuana. The Palm Springs City Council recently voted to allow two medical marijuana collectives to operate as licensed facilities.


News Hawk- Ganjarden http://www.420Magazine.com
Source: The Desert Sun
Author: Rasha Aly
Contact: The Desert Sun
Copyright: 2009 MyDesert.com.
Website: Council Vote Advances Ban on Pot Dispensaries

[Desert Toker]

I was at that Council Meeting and the 3 council members that voted to keep the ban sure doesn't mind taking 100 % of their constituants TAX'S, but want to throw the MMJ users to another CITY..! Do you noitce that no one stood up and said we do not want MMJ in our CITY. I think that the 3 members that voted to keep the ban should stop , take a deep breath and get educated......Thank you very much, GET EDUCATED ON MMJ BEFORE YOU MAKE A VOTE........TUNE IN TO THE REAL WORLD....Not your made up world....