Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
CA: With a new law regulating medical marijuana dispensaries set to take effect this week, potential owners are rushing to get in before it's too late.
If their applications are approved before Friday's deadline, the number of dispensaries in La Puente would nearly double, essentially rendering the city's new cap on them outdated.
"We could have more than six," said assistant city manager Greg Yamachika.
La Puente capped the number of dispensaries at six when it crafted the law in December because five applications had been approved and one was pending.
Since then, five more dispensaries applied for business licenses.
City officials insist that eleven dispensaries aren't likely because the application process can often be lengthy.
"I highly doubt we'll have eleven," said Mayor Louie Lujan. "We'll likely have at or below our limit."
Finding a location, securing a building lease and complying with other city building codes is a lot of work, Lujan said.
"If you're not legit from the get-go, a week or two won't help your cause," he said.
But Yamachika conceded that if a potential owner had all the proper plans and paperwork in order, approvals could be received nearly instantly.
With six dispensaries, La Puente allowed more medical marijuana businesses than any other city in the San Gabriel Valley.
The city proposed the regulations - it's the first attempt to rein in the dispensaries - after a rash of inquires late last year.
La Puente formerly had a dispensary moratorium in place, but the law lapsed without extension in September 2008. A proposal for an outright ban failed in August 2008 - opening the door for the dispensaries.
City officials couldn't say what is driving the recent spike in applications.
"I don't know," Lujan said. "I'm not sure what's going on in their minds."
Councilman Dan Holloway, who opposed allowing any medical marijuana dispensaries, said that opening the door for any dispensaries likely lead to the five new applications.
"They go to La Puente for no other reason than that they can," he said. "La Puente, a small family-oriented city, doesn't have a need for six dispensaries. My assumption is that their customers come from all over."
City officials couldn't specify if and when the pending applications would be approved.
Only one of the approved dispensaries - Trinity Wellness Group on Amar Road - is operating.
At least three of the approved dispensaries were closed down because of violations, city officials said.
The La Puente Collaborative on Hacienda Road, the city's first dispensary, was shut Photo Gallery Rush to open Marijuana dispensaries [With a new law regulating medical marijuana dispensaries set to take effect this week, potential owners are rushing to get in before it's too late.] down because of unapproved remodeling, officials said.
"The city has been harsh but they've been fair," said Scott Noelte, one of the four people who runs the Green Comfort Collective on Fairgrove Avenue.
Noelte's collective was shut down in mid-January after being open for two weeks, he said. They didn't have a handicap-accessible bathroom and needed it fixed before they could secure a certificate of occupancy, Noelte said.
Among the rules beginning Friday, dispensaries can only operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. And a security guard - who can be armed - must patrol the area surrounding the shop.
The dispensaries must also put bars all windows, install 24-hour security cameras and have separate waiting and dispensing areas.
On Tuesday, the city took another step to enacting more rules. The city's Planning Commission voted 4-0 to approve a proposed ordinance and recommended that dispensaries be 700 feet from schools, libraries and parks.
If approved by the City Council, all six approved dispensaries would be in violation and have a year to comply with the ordinance, said planning commissioner Gil Duarte.
The council will take up the proposal at its next meeting.
At Trinity Wellness, owner Jon Salman will be waiting to see what happen this week with the pending applications.
If they are approved before the cap goes into effect, he won't be happy.
He said he's done everything he can to comply with city regulations to stay open.
"What's unfair is that we went through so many hoops to get in and others now can jump in," he said.
NewsHawk: User: 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: Whittier Daily News (CA)
Copyright: 2010 Los Angeles Newspaper Group
Contact: Write a Letter - Whittier Daily News
Website: Home - Whittier Daily News
Author: James Wagner
If their applications are approved before Friday's deadline, the number of dispensaries in La Puente would nearly double, essentially rendering the city's new cap on them outdated.
"We could have more than six," said assistant city manager Greg Yamachika.
La Puente capped the number of dispensaries at six when it crafted the law in December because five applications had been approved and one was pending.
Since then, five more dispensaries applied for business licenses.
City officials insist that eleven dispensaries aren't likely because the application process can often be lengthy.
"I highly doubt we'll have eleven," said Mayor Louie Lujan. "We'll likely have at or below our limit."
Finding a location, securing a building lease and complying with other city building codes is a lot of work, Lujan said.
"If you're not legit from the get-go, a week or two won't help your cause," he said.
But Yamachika conceded that if a potential owner had all the proper plans and paperwork in order, approvals could be received nearly instantly.
With six dispensaries, La Puente allowed more medical marijuana businesses than any other city in the San Gabriel Valley.
The city proposed the regulations - it's the first attempt to rein in the dispensaries - after a rash of inquires late last year.
La Puente formerly had a dispensary moratorium in place, but the law lapsed without extension in September 2008. A proposal for an outright ban failed in August 2008 - opening the door for the dispensaries.
City officials couldn't say what is driving the recent spike in applications.
"I don't know," Lujan said. "I'm not sure what's going on in their minds."
Councilman Dan Holloway, who opposed allowing any medical marijuana dispensaries, said that opening the door for any dispensaries likely lead to the five new applications.
"They go to La Puente for no other reason than that they can," he said. "La Puente, a small family-oriented city, doesn't have a need for six dispensaries. My assumption is that their customers come from all over."
City officials couldn't specify if and when the pending applications would be approved.
Only one of the approved dispensaries - Trinity Wellness Group on Amar Road - is operating.
At least three of the approved dispensaries were closed down because of violations, city officials said.
The La Puente Collaborative on Hacienda Road, the city's first dispensary, was shut Photo Gallery Rush to open Marijuana dispensaries [With a new law regulating medical marijuana dispensaries set to take effect this week, potential owners are rushing to get in before it's too late.] down because of unapproved remodeling, officials said.
"The city has been harsh but they've been fair," said Scott Noelte, one of the four people who runs the Green Comfort Collective on Fairgrove Avenue.
Noelte's collective was shut down in mid-January after being open for two weeks, he said. They didn't have a handicap-accessible bathroom and needed it fixed before they could secure a certificate of occupancy, Noelte said.
Among the rules beginning Friday, dispensaries can only operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. And a security guard - who can be armed - must patrol the area surrounding the shop.
The dispensaries must also put bars all windows, install 24-hour security cameras and have separate waiting and dispensing areas.
On Tuesday, the city took another step to enacting more rules. The city's Planning Commission voted 4-0 to approve a proposed ordinance and recommended that dispensaries be 700 feet from schools, libraries and parks.
If approved by the City Council, all six approved dispensaries would be in violation and have a year to comply with the ordinance, said planning commissioner Gil Duarte.
The council will take up the proposal at its next meeting.
At Trinity Wellness, owner Jon Salman will be waiting to see what happen this week with the pending applications.
If they are approved before the cap goes into effect, he won't be happy.
He said he's done everything he can to comply with city regulations to stay open.
"What's unfair is that we went through so many hoops to get in and others now can jump in," he said.
NewsHawk: User: 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: Whittier Daily News (CA)
Copyright: 2010 Los Angeles Newspaper Group
Contact: Write a Letter - Whittier Daily News
Website: Home - Whittier Daily News
Author: James Wagner
