The Town Council were all ayes Tuesday night as they directed staff to work with the Planning Commission to draft a ban on medical marijuana dispensaries in Yucca Valley.
There is one business in town that includes medical marijuana in its operations: the health collective California Alternative Medicinal Solutions in the Monterey Business Center.
Since December 2008, the council and the planning commissioners have been holding public hearings while they debate whether to ban dispensaries in general and CAMS in particular.
Public support at the meetings has been overwhelmingly in favor of medical marijuana and CAMS, although not all of the Morongo Basin's petitioners have been residents of Yucca Valley.
The stalwart opponent to marijuana dispensaries at these hearings remains Lori Green.
In the days before the council's policy discussion Tuesday night, the Town received an e-mail from the Inland Valley Drug Free Community Coalition in Rancho Cucamonga that was copied to 50 media inboxes, from the Hi-Desert Star to Bill O'Reilly at Fox News.
"We have long asked that you ban pot stores in your city," wrote Brenda Chabot, executive director of the coalition, to the council. "We are nearly at the point of giving up on you."
Chabot touted recent successes in cities that banned marijuana dispensaries.
"Your town is the only one left still sitting on the fence. That is not leadership," Chabot wrote. "It is hard for parents, youth and good-hearted Americans to further understand the indecisiveness of your council."
At the council's public hearing Tuesday night, 11 spoke in favor allowing the one medical marijuana-dispensing health collective to remain in Yucca Valley.
They too used strong words to show their frustration with the Town's deliberative process.
Phillip Morris of Joshua Tree recalled the planning commission meeting in August, where four out of five commissioners favored the business' staying in town.
Now, he said, "What I'm hearing through the grapevine is that you want to outlaw it, opposed to the people saying they want it."
Michael Smalley of Yucca Valley said it "doesn't just rain medical marijuana; there has to be a place where patients can access it safely and securely." He also accused the Town of being prejudiced and discriminating against medical marijuana.
Lee Morgan did not disclose his community, but said his wife relies on medical marijuana. Morgan took a more truculent stance.
"I'm very mad that this is coming up again, after tens of people came up and expressed their opinion and the planning commission made the right decision. If you people don't make the right decision, I look forward to a lawsuit."
Terry Millen of Morongo Valley blamed the council for causing "additional anger and hatred" in the community due to their "unparalleled bias" in disseminating misinformation. "Let the lawsuits begin."
D.J. Ross, executive director of CAMS, addressed the claims of a one-sided presentation during his turn at the podium.
"This is the sixth time we've heard this subject. It's clear from your staff reports that you have biased information," he said, "hundreds of pages filled with unbelievable, scary stories of every kind of crime committed form 2005 to today."
Since the debate was opened last December, the Town's staff has submitted reports including the "Medical Marijuana and Associated Issues," from the California Chiefs of Police Association, and a 2006 White Paper by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, focusing on crime or accounts such as one about a Florida teen possibly trading sex for pot.
California voters approved the "Compassionate Use" initiative allowing the medicinal use of marijuana in 1996.
While some cities have upheld Prop. 215, many others have opposed it on the basis that possessing, selling or growing marijuana is a federal crime.
At a Town Council meeting Oct. 6, council members Bill Neeb, Lori Herbel and George Huntington thought that putting the issue to a public vote was a good idea.
Neeb defended the planning commission's efforts to thoroughly investigate the matter and considered it time well spent.
"If it goes to the ballot, then it will be the people's choice," observed Neeb at the time. "If they want it, how are we going to deal with it? We'll be standing here flat footed."
Neeb and Huntington continue to suggest putting the medical marijuana issue to a public vote in the June primaries, but Councilman Frank Luckino is still opposed to allowing it in the town.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Hi-Desert Star
Author: Rebecca Unger
Copyright: 2009 Hi-Desert Star
There is one business in town that includes medical marijuana in its operations: the health collective California Alternative Medicinal Solutions in the Monterey Business Center.
Since December 2008, the council and the planning commissioners have been holding public hearings while they debate whether to ban dispensaries in general and CAMS in particular.
Public support at the meetings has been overwhelmingly in favor of medical marijuana and CAMS, although not all of the Morongo Basin's petitioners have been residents of Yucca Valley.
The stalwart opponent to marijuana dispensaries at these hearings remains Lori Green.
In the days before the council's policy discussion Tuesday night, the Town received an e-mail from the Inland Valley Drug Free Community Coalition in Rancho Cucamonga that was copied to 50 media inboxes, from the Hi-Desert Star to Bill O'Reilly at Fox News.
"We have long asked that you ban pot stores in your city," wrote Brenda Chabot, executive director of the coalition, to the council. "We are nearly at the point of giving up on you."
Chabot touted recent successes in cities that banned marijuana dispensaries.
"Your town is the only one left still sitting on the fence. That is not leadership," Chabot wrote. "It is hard for parents, youth and good-hearted Americans to further understand the indecisiveness of your council."
At the council's public hearing Tuesday night, 11 spoke in favor allowing the one medical marijuana-dispensing health collective to remain in Yucca Valley.
They too used strong words to show their frustration with the Town's deliberative process.
Phillip Morris of Joshua Tree recalled the planning commission meeting in August, where four out of five commissioners favored the business' staying in town.
Now, he said, "What I'm hearing through the grapevine is that you want to outlaw it, opposed to the people saying they want it."
Michael Smalley of Yucca Valley said it "doesn't just rain medical marijuana; there has to be a place where patients can access it safely and securely." He also accused the Town of being prejudiced and discriminating against medical marijuana.
Lee Morgan did not disclose his community, but said his wife relies on medical marijuana. Morgan took a more truculent stance.
"I'm very mad that this is coming up again, after tens of people came up and expressed their opinion and the planning commission made the right decision. If you people don't make the right decision, I look forward to a lawsuit."
Terry Millen of Morongo Valley blamed the council for causing "additional anger and hatred" in the community due to their "unparalleled bias" in disseminating misinformation. "Let the lawsuits begin."
D.J. Ross, executive director of CAMS, addressed the claims of a one-sided presentation during his turn at the podium.
"This is the sixth time we've heard this subject. It's clear from your staff reports that you have biased information," he said, "hundreds of pages filled with unbelievable, scary stories of every kind of crime committed form 2005 to today."
Since the debate was opened last December, the Town's staff has submitted reports including the "Medical Marijuana and Associated Issues," from the California Chiefs of Police Association, and a 2006 White Paper by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, focusing on crime or accounts such as one about a Florida teen possibly trading sex for pot.
California voters approved the "Compassionate Use" initiative allowing the medicinal use of marijuana in 1996.
While some cities have upheld Prop. 215, many others have opposed it on the basis that possessing, selling or growing marijuana is a federal crime.
At a Town Council meeting Oct. 6, council members Bill Neeb, Lori Herbel and George Huntington thought that putting the issue to a public vote was a good idea.
Neeb defended the planning commission's efforts to thoroughly investigate the matter and considered it time well spent.
"If it goes to the ballot, then it will be the people's choice," observed Neeb at the time. "If they want it, how are we going to deal with it? We'll be standing here flat footed."
Neeb and Huntington continue to suggest putting the medical marijuana issue to a public vote in the June primaries, but Councilman Frank Luckino is still opposed to allowing it in the town.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Hi-Desert Star
Author: Rebecca Unger
Copyright: 2009 Hi-Desert Star
