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The Ridgecrest City Council last night sent a proposed ordinance regulating the operation of medical-marijuana dispensaries back to staff for further work.
The item was on the agenda for introduction and first reading.
Epicurean Delights Compliance Coordinator Don Blakemore told the council the dispensary is open under local management.
“We have negotiated, as a small group of peace advocates, a settlement of the differences of the managing partners,” he said. “They will be retiring to their farms in Bakersfield and Lake Isabella, and the dispensary here is under local management.”
He told the council the dispensary serves approximately 120 certified patients.
“We certainly appreciate the draft ordinance. It gives us a blueprint to work with so we can come up with a workable business plan so that we can fit into the community as a law-abiding facility,” said Blakemore. “We don’t want this to be a source for crime, an attractive nuisance or anything like that. We simply want to be able to service the people that are in need.”
Councilmember Ron Carter called the proposed ordinance complicated and lengthy.
“When I read the one from the county, it has exactly the same information as the draft from our attorney, but it’s much clearer and streamlined,” he said. “I would propose that we go with what was passed by the county.”
He proposed that the chief of police be the regulating authority.
“I’m not ready to act on this,” said Councilmember Steve Morgan.
Vice Mayor Dan Clark said he would like the proposed ordinance to require security guards.
“My thinking is that if we were to consider this, I would like to see a security guard that is run through a separate agency,” he said.
“We’re open to that except for the cost,” said Blakemore, “We are in a low-crime town. We are looking at adequate entrance security, and we would really like to keep our costs down so we don’t have to pass them on to the patients who, for the most part, are on disability and limited incomes. We’re not dealing with a high-crime clientele, and we’re not dealing with a large amount of product or money on the premises.”
“I’m not ready to pass anything at this point, especially after listening to the chief.” Clark said. “This is somewhat convoluted at best in terms of legal clarity for the police chief. If we can’t have the police as the regulatory agency, then I’ve got real problems with that because we need a regulatory agency to look at this business and make sure that in fact it’s safe and that they’re not going to be robbed and whatever product is dispensed is safe for the public.”
The council met Friday and voted 5-0 to approve a five-month extension of a moratorium on the licensing of medical-marijuana dispensaries in the city to provide sufficient time to consider a proposed ordinance regulating such facilities.
NewsHawk: _qWERTY - 420 Magazine
Source: The Daily Independent (Ridgecrest)
Pubdate: Thursday, October 5, 2006
Copyright: 2006 The Daily Independent
Contact: editor@ridgecrestca.com
Website: The Daily Independent - Front
The item was on the agenda for introduction and first reading.
Epicurean Delights Compliance Coordinator Don Blakemore told the council the dispensary is open under local management.
“We have negotiated, as a small group of peace advocates, a settlement of the differences of the managing partners,” he said. “They will be retiring to their farms in Bakersfield and Lake Isabella, and the dispensary here is under local management.”
He told the council the dispensary serves approximately 120 certified patients.
“We certainly appreciate the draft ordinance. It gives us a blueprint to work with so we can come up with a workable business plan so that we can fit into the community as a law-abiding facility,” said Blakemore. “We don’t want this to be a source for crime, an attractive nuisance or anything like that. We simply want to be able to service the people that are in need.”
Councilmember Ron Carter called the proposed ordinance complicated and lengthy.
“When I read the one from the county, it has exactly the same information as the draft from our attorney, but it’s much clearer and streamlined,” he said. “I would propose that we go with what was passed by the county.”
He proposed that the chief of police be the regulating authority.
“I’m not ready to act on this,” said Councilmember Steve Morgan.
Vice Mayor Dan Clark said he would like the proposed ordinance to require security guards.
“My thinking is that if we were to consider this, I would like to see a security guard that is run through a separate agency,” he said.
“We’re open to that except for the cost,” said Blakemore, “We are in a low-crime town. We are looking at adequate entrance security, and we would really like to keep our costs down so we don’t have to pass them on to the patients who, for the most part, are on disability and limited incomes. We’re not dealing with a high-crime clientele, and we’re not dealing with a large amount of product or money on the premises.”
“I’m not ready to pass anything at this point, especially after listening to the chief.” Clark said. “This is somewhat convoluted at best in terms of legal clarity for the police chief. If we can’t have the police as the regulatory agency, then I’ve got real problems with that because we need a regulatory agency to look at this business and make sure that in fact it’s safe and that they’re not going to be robbed and whatever product is dispensed is safe for the public.”
The council met Friday and voted 5-0 to approve a five-month extension of a moratorium on the licensing of medical-marijuana dispensaries in the city to provide sufficient time to consider a proposed ordinance regulating such facilities.
NewsHawk: _qWERTY - 420 Magazine
Source: The Daily Independent (Ridgecrest)
Pubdate: Thursday, October 5, 2006
Copyright: 2006 The Daily Independent
Contact: editor@ridgecrestca.com
Website: The Daily Independent - Front
