Psycho4Bud
04-25-2008, 10:35 AM
A unanimous decision by the Planning Commission to officially ban medical marijuana dispensaries in Redondo Beach will next be recommended for the City Council??s consideration.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing in nearly empty chambers April 17, and with zero members of the public offering input, made quick work of staff??s recommendation to transform a two-year moratorium on the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries within the city to a permanent prohibition via an amended zoning code.
When one such dispensary set up shop at 210 Herondo in May 2006 and neglected to first file for a valid business license, the city took action against it. A 45-day moratorium on the establishment of such businesses was imposed that June; in August the moratorium was extended approximately 11 more months, and again extended another full year in June 2007. That moratorium will expire on June 26.
??This is an issue all South Bay cities have been dealing with,? said Planning Director Randy Berler. ??The action was against a dispensary that came in without the city??s approval ? at a time when dispensaries were popping up all over. We were one of many cities to impose moratoriums.?
With a looming expiration date, Berler and city staff recommended to the Planning Commission an outright ban of medical marijuana dispensaries and an amendment to the zoning ordinance that specifically reflects that ban. Staff did offer the commission a second option during last Thursday??s meeting, one that would permit but stringently regulate dispensaries within the city, but that alternative was quickly dismissed.
In a 100-plus-page staff report, Berler cited many articles and studies that indicated that where medical marijuana dispensaries were established, the quality of public health, safety and welfare had been compromised.
??There were communities that allowed the dispensaries and were sympathetic to their users, but there were unintended, unforeseen consequences,? Berler said Friday, mentioning for example an increase of crime and outright public use of marijuana within close proximity to the dispensary.
The Beach Reporter - (http://www.tbrnews.com/articles/2008/04/24/redondo_beach_news/news12.txt)
Increase of crime? What a load of crap!:mad:
Have a good one!:jointsmile:
The Planning Commission held a public hearing in nearly empty chambers April 17, and with zero members of the public offering input, made quick work of staff??s recommendation to transform a two-year moratorium on the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries within the city to a permanent prohibition via an amended zoning code.
When one such dispensary set up shop at 210 Herondo in May 2006 and neglected to first file for a valid business license, the city took action against it. A 45-day moratorium on the establishment of such businesses was imposed that June; in August the moratorium was extended approximately 11 more months, and again extended another full year in June 2007. That moratorium will expire on June 26.
??This is an issue all South Bay cities have been dealing with,? said Planning Director Randy Berler. ??The action was against a dispensary that came in without the city??s approval ? at a time when dispensaries were popping up all over. We were one of many cities to impose moratoriums.?
With a looming expiration date, Berler and city staff recommended to the Planning Commission an outright ban of medical marijuana dispensaries and an amendment to the zoning ordinance that specifically reflects that ban. Staff did offer the commission a second option during last Thursday??s meeting, one that would permit but stringently regulate dispensaries within the city, but that alternative was quickly dismissed.
In a 100-plus-page staff report, Berler cited many articles and studies that indicated that where medical marijuana dispensaries were established, the quality of public health, safety and welfare had been compromised.
??There were communities that allowed the dispensaries and were sympathetic to their users, but there were unintended, unforeseen consequences,? Berler said Friday, mentioning for example an increase of crime and outright public use of marijuana within close proximity to the dispensary.
The Beach Reporter - (http://www.tbrnews.com/articles/2008/04/24/redondo_beach_news/news12.txt)
Increase of crime? What a load of crap!:mad:
Have a good one!:jointsmile: