News (Media Awareness Project) - US CA: Council: No Pot For Christmas |
| Title: | US CA: Council: No Pot For Christmas |
| Published On: | 2005-12-25 |
| Source: | Desert Sun, The (CA) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-08-19 01:32:42 |
COUNCIL: NO POT FOR CHRISTMAS
In a meeting notable for its brevity and lack of controversy, the Palm
Desert City Council on Saturday passed a 45-day moratorium on the
licensing of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.
The vote was 4-0, with Councilman Buford Crites absent.
"The city is going to develop its own regulations," said Mayor Jim
Ferguson. "I want to see people who need treatment get treatment."
The moratorium may be extended for up to two years, but Ferguson envisions
the city having regulations in place by April.
"I don't think we're using the moratorium as a subterfuge for a ban," he said.
The Christmas Eve meeting was triggered by the possibility of an
unlicensed dispensary opening today on Highway 111. Pierre Werner of Las
Vegas, a medical marijuana user and advocate, had announced Friday
he would open a dispensary at 74-273 Highway 111 on Christmas Day and
distribute medical marijuana to qualified patients for free.
Werner spoke briefly at the meeting, praising the council for not banning
dispensaries altogether and stating his willingness to abide by any
regulations it adopts.
"I'm disappointed," Werner said after the meeting. "(But) I hope to work
with the council in the new year."
He canceled the Christmas Day opening but said he plans to move from
Nevada to the Coachella Valley in January. Werner has also applied for a
business license to open a medical marijuana dispensary at 74-900 Highway
111 in Indian Wells. The Indian Wells City Council passed a 45-day
moratorium on dispensaries on Dec. 15.
The Palm Desert moratorium has support from area medical marijuana
advocates like Lanny Swerdlow, director of the Marijuana Antiprohibition
Project.
"I'm glad the Palm Desert City Council (is) going in a reasonable,
rational way (toward allowing dispensaries)," he said. "I don't want to
see a proliferation (of unlicensed dispensaries) while you develop
regulations."
The city already has one unlicensed dispensary, CannaHelp, on El Paseo.
Ferguson said it will not be affected by the moratorium because it is
already in operation.
In a meeting notable for its brevity and lack of controversy, the Palm
Desert City Council on Saturday passed a 45-day moratorium on the
licensing of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.
The vote was 4-0, with Councilman Buford Crites absent.
"The city is going to develop its own regulations," said Mayor Jim
Ferguson. "I want to see people who need treatment get treatment."
The moratorium may be extended for up to two years, but Ferguson envisions
the city having regulations in place by April.
"I don't think we're using the moratorium as a subterfuge for a ban," he said.
The Christmas Eve meeting was triggered by the possibility of an
unlicensed dispensary opening today on Highway 111. Pierre Werner of Las
Vegas, a medical marijuana user and advocate, had announced Friday
he would open a dispensary at 74-273 Highway 111 on Christmas Day and
distribute medical marijuana to qualified patients for free.
Werner spoke briefly at the meeting, praising the council for not banning
dispensaries altogether and stating his willingness to abide by any
regulations it adopts.
"I'm disappointed," Werner said after the meeting. "(But) I hope to work
with the council in the new year."
He canceled the Christmas Day opening but said he plans to move from
Nevada to the Coachella Valley in January. Werner has also applied for a
business license to open a medical marijuana dispensary at 74-900 Highway
111 in Indian Wells. The Indian Wells City Council passed a 45-day
moratorium on dispensaries on Dec. 15.
The Palm Desert moratorium has support from area medical marijuana
advocates like Lanny Swerdlow, director of the Marijuana Antiprohibition
Project.
"I'm glad the Palm Desert City Council (is) going in a reasonable,
rational way (toward allowing dispensaries)," he said. "I don't want to
see a proliferation (of unlicensed dispensaries) while you develop
regulations."
The city already has one unlicensed dispensary, CannaHelp, on El Paseo.
Ferguson said it will not be affected by the moratorium because it is
already in operation.
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