CA - City Council decides to ban medical marijuana dispensaries

[Galaxy]

City Council decides to ban medical marijuana dispensaries
Request from doctor led to urgent measure
By Lola Sherman Union-Tribune Staff Writer

2:00 a.m. May 15, 2009

OCEANSIDE â?? The City Council has approved an urgency ordinance, effective immediately, forbidding the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries in Oceanside.

After hearing from 17 speakers, many lobbying passionately for or against marijuana, the council voted 4-0 for the ban at its meeting Wednesday night.

â??It's the moral and legal thing you should do,â?� Dion Markgraaff, head of San Diego Americans for Safe Access, said in urging the council to reject the ban.

â??Tons of people needâ?� marijuana for their pain, he said.

â??It's one of the safest therapeutic substances known to mankind,â?� marijuana proponent Neal Musik said.

Lori Green traveled from Yucca Valley in San Bernardino County to speak in favor of the ordinance, saying marijuana use can encourage other criminal behavior in young people.

Four friends backed up Kinney Hines, co-chairman of the North Coastal Prevention Coalition, when he said permitting medical marijuana dispensaries â??would send the wrong message that drugs are acceptable.â?�

Bruce Frankel, executive director of the San Diego Prevention Coalition, told the council that the dispensaries practice no quality control and â??take advantage of desperate patientsâ?� by charging $12.50 to $25 for a gram of marijuana.

Eugene Davidovich, a Gulf War veteran and a self-described â??cannabis patient,â?� suggested the city set up a task force to consider allowing dispensaries.

â??I cannot wrap my arms around legalizing marijuana in any form,â?� Councilman Jack Feller said.

Councilmen Rocky Chavez and Jerry Kern said the city's role involves land use â?? where to allow dispensaries, if they are allowed â?? and does not involve deciding medical issues. Councilwoman Esther Sanchez was absent from the meeting.

John Mullen, the city attorney, said the urgency of the council approving an ordinance was the result of a visit he had from a doctor wanting to open a medical-marijuana dispensary.

Juliana von Hacht, associate planner for the city, recommended the ban, saying that to do otherwise â??may cause a proliferation of marijuana dispensaries.â?�

Von Hacht said other cities â?? she cited Rocklin, Roseville, Oakland, Hayward and Fairfax â?? have found that burglaries, robberies, loitering and traffic have increased near dispensaries.

An urgency ordinance is good for only 45 days, but von Hacht said, â??I will come back to you and request an extension to 10 months and 15 days.â?�

Use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is legal in California if recommended by a doctor. But it's not legal under federal law, and federal agents have raided medical-marijuana dispensaries in the county.

Lola Sherman: (760) 476-8241; [email protected]

Galaxy Reviewed by Galaxy on 05-15-2009. CA - City Council decides to ban medical marijuana dispensaries City Council decides to ban medical marijuana dispensaries Request from doctor led to urgent measure By Lola Sherman Union-Tribune Staff Writer 2:00 a.m. May 15, 2009 OCEANSIDE â?? The City Council has approved an urgency ordinance, effective immediately, forbidding the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries in Oceanside. After hearing from 17 speakers, many lobbying passionately for or against marijuana, the council voted 4-0 for the ban at its meeting Wednesday night. Rating: 5

[msc008]

Nice to see Eugene standing up for our rights. You can see his speech to Oceanside City Council here:

http://www.EugeneDavidovich.com

[yokinazu]

After hearing from 17 speakers, many lobbying passionately for or against marijuana, the council voted 4-0 for the ban at its meeting Wednesday night.

never go into a meeting unless you no the outcome before hand.

John Mullen, the city attorney, said the urgency of the council approving an ordinance was the result of a visit he had from a doctor wanting to open a medical-marijuana dispensary.

OH MY GOD. we must stop this before those pot heads actualy help somebody
i just cant beleive a doctor wants to open a clinic and help releive peoples pain and suffering. we'll have none of your malarky here bub, help people, what do you think this place is?