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Pot shops in Bakersfield may soon be shut down for good. The city attorney has drafted a proposed ordinance banning medicinal marijuana shops within city limits.
The city already has a resolution banning pot shops, but an ordinance would give enforcers more legal power to shut shops down. Medicinal marijuana shops became legal in California in 1996, but the city of Bakersfield has tried to ban them.
"There doesn't seem to be a willingness to meet the needs of the individuals who need access to medical marijuana for their illnesses," said Nathan Acuna, a patient and part owner of Nature's Remedies.
In 2004, the city council passed a resolution ban. "I'm not a proponent of putting one more thing out there that is mind altering," said Terry Maxwell, Bakersfield City Councilman.
Maxwell is proposing an ordinance ban. "Ordinances are just a touch stronger in that when someone is truly violating an ordinance you can go in and shut them down pretty quickly," he continued.
This comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling that says municipalities are allowed to regulate marijuana shops.
"It's always nice to have that legal support in case we wanted to, in case we actually have to go to court," explained Ginny Gennaro, Bakersfield City Attorney.
There are at least 25 medicinal marijuana collectives in Bakersfield. Acuna belongs to one of those collectives. "We just want to make people happy," explained Acuna.
If the ordinance passes, there would be one shop in Kern County that can legally sell medicinal marijuana.
That's because in November, voters passed Measure G, forcing county pot shops to stay a certain distance from schools, churches and parks.
"The shop is inaccessible to most people in the area. There are no bus lines out there," noted Acuna.
Gennaro said if the ordinance passes, pot shops will not close the next day. "It's going to take some time," she explained.
Until then, Acuna said he hopes the city has a change of heart. He said otherwise, he and his patients will buy illegally.
"We'd have to go to the streets and it's already well known that what's being sold on the streets is affiliated with gangs," he said.
People with a prescription for medicinal marijuana will have the option to buy in other communities without a ban.
Maxwell plans to introduce the ordinance next week.
If the ordinance passes, some collectives plan to gather petition signatures to reconsider the ordinance or put it to a public vote.
According to the city clerk, the group would have to get 10% of registered voters to sign the petition. In Kern County, that's a little more than 15,000.
Collectives faced the same issue in 2011 when the county tried to ban the shops. During that time, the group gathered 27,000 signatures and stopped the ban.
Maxwell said he's interested in hearing from concerned citizens at the next city council meeting.
"We'll listen to the public, hear their concerns, hopefully from both sides," explained Maxwell.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: kget.com
Author: kget.com
Contact: KGET Contacts | KGET TV 17
Website: Bakersfield pot shops could be shut down for good | KGET TV 17
The city already has a resolution banning pot shops, but an ordinance would give enforcers more legal power to shut shops down. Medicinal marijuana shops became legal in California in 1996, but the city of Bakersfield has tried to ban them.
"There doesn't seem to be a willingness to meet the needs of the individuals who need access to medical marijuana for their illnesses," said Nathan Acuna, a patient and part owner of Nature's Remedies.
In 2004, the city council passed a resolution ban. "I'm not a proponent of putting one more thing out there that is mind altering," said Terry Maxwell, Bakersfield City Councilman.
Maxwell is proposing an ordinance ban. "Ordinances are just a touch stronger in that when someone is truly violating an ordinance you can go in and shut them down pretty quickly," he continued.
This comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling that says municipalities are allowed to regulate marijuana shops.
"It's always nice to have that legal support in case we wanted to, in case we actually have to go to court," explained Ginny Gennaro, Bakersfield City Attorney.
There are at least 25 medicinal marijuana collectives in Bakersfield. Acuna belongs to one of those collectives. "We just want to make people happy," explained Acuna.
If the ordinance passes, there would be one shop in Kern County that can legally sell medicinal marijuana.
That's because in November, voters passed Measure G, forcing county pot shops to stay a certain distance from schools, churches and parks.
"The shop is inaccessible to most people in the area. There are no bus lines out there," noted Acuna.
Gennaro said if the ordinance passes, pot shops will not close the next day. "It's going to take some time," she explained.
Until then, Acuna said he hopes the city has a change of heart. He said otherwise, he and his patients will buy illegally.
"We'd have to go to the streets and it's already well known that what's being sold on the streets is affiliated with gangs," he said.
People with a prescription for medicinal marijuana will have the option to buy in other communities without a ban.
Maxwell plans to introduce the ordinance next week.
If the ordinance passes, some collectives plan to gather petition signatures to reconsider the ordinance or put it to a public vote.
According to the city clerk, the group would have to get 10% of registered voters to sign the petition. In Kern County, that's a little more than 15,000.
Collectives faced the same issue in 2011 when the county tried to ban the shops. During that time, the group gathered 27,000 signatures and stopped the ban.
Maxwell said he's interested in hearing from concerned citizens at the next city council meeting.
"We'll listen to the public, hear their concerns, hopefully from both sides," explained Maxwell.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: kget.com
Author: kget.com
Contact: KGET Contacts | KGET TV 17
Website: Bakersfield pot shops could be shut down for good | KGET TV 17
