Jacob Bell
New Member
Saying it's not their place to tell the City Council what to do, Martinez school board members on Monday voted not to ask the city to keep medical marijuana dispensaries from opening within district boundaries.
The council is scheduled to review an ordinance Wednesday that would allow three dispensaries to open in Martinez. The ordinance would prohibit dispensaries from opening within 600 feet of schools, churches with schools or day care centers, facilities serving young people or another dispensary.
But a recent proposal to open a dispensary in the CK Motors building on Alhambra Avenue, down the street from Alhambra High School, has rattled some residents.
School board member John Fuller argued that having a dispensary within district boundaries sends a mixed message to students. For years, Martinez schools have participated in the D.A.R.E program, which encourages students to stay away from illegal drugs, he said.
"We're just asking them not to place it in our boundaries. There's a lot of our city that's not within our boundaries," Fuller said.
The rest of the board, however, argued the issue falls outside their jurisdiction.
"I don't think it is our business to tell the city what to do," said Kathi McLaughlin. However, she said she would be comfortable asking the city to keep dispensaries at least 1,000 feet from schools and out of buildings on Alhambra Avenue.
Martinez resident Larry Lippow implored the board members to take a stand on the issue.
"It troubles me that as a board there's not a stronger voice that's willing to express themselves about what (medical marijuana) can do to the school community," Lippow said.
But former school board member Ron Skrehot said the district should be consistent about alcohol and marijuana, both of which are illegal for school-age children to use. There is a liquor store on Alhambra Avenue a couple of blocks south of the high school.
'We don't take a stand on alcohol," Skrehot said.
News Hawk- GuitarMan313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: mercurynews.com
Author: Lisa P. White
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: San Jose Mercury News
Website: Martinez school board passes on jumping into medical marijuana debate
The council is scheduled to review an ordinance Wednesday that would allow three dispensaries to open in Martinez. The ordinance would prohibit dispensaries from opening within 600 feet of schools, churches with schools or day care centers, facilities serving young people or another dispensary.
But a recent proposal to open a dispensary in the CK Motors building on Alhambra Avenue, down the street from Alhambra High School, has rattled some residents.
School board member John Fuller argued that having a dispensary within district boundaries sends a mixed message to students. For years, Martinez schools have participated in the D.A.R.E program, which encourages students to stay away from illegal drugs, he said.
"We're just asking them not to place it in our boundaries. There's a lot of our city that's not within our boundaries," Fuller said.
The rest of the board, however, argued the issue falls outside their jurisdiction.
"I don't think it is our business to tell the city what to do," said Kathi McLaughlin. However, she said she would be comfortable asking the city to keep dispensaries at least 1,000 feet from schools and out of buildings on Alhambra Avenue.
Martinez resident Larry Lippow implored the board members to take a stand on the issue.
"It troubles me that as a board there's not a stronger voice that's willing to express themselves about what (medical marijuana) can do to the school community," Lippow said.
But former school board member Ron Skrehot said the district should be consistent about alcohol and marijuana, both of which are illegal for school-age children to use. There is a liquor store on Alhambra Avenue a couple of blocks south of the high school.
'We don't take a stand on alcohol," Skrehot said.
News Hawk- GuitarMan313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: mercurynews.com
Author: Lisa P. White
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: San Jose Mercury News
Website: Martinez school board passes on jumping into medical marijuana debate
