Jacob Bell
New Member
If it were up to the Hesperia Planning Commission, the city would be granting business licenses to medical marijuana facilities.
In a split decision, the commission voted Thursday night to recommend that the Hesperia City Council pass a proposed code amendment put forward by a medical marijuana advocacy group.
"With the ban in place, we have 12 dispensaries and they're not regulated," commissioner Julie Jensen said. The city has had an ordinance banning medical marijuana distribution dispensaries since 2005. "Banning medical marijuana isn't going to get rid of it."
"That's been our experience," Principal Planner Dave Reno said.
In theory, the city could fine dispensaries away, as they can levy fines up to $500 a day on dispensaries and their landlords.
Commissioners and medical marijuana proponents pointed to the current dispensaries – all of which city officials say are operating without business licenses – as an untapped source of sales tax or separate special tax.
"You are going to be faced with a choice of making money off these things or spending money" fighting the dispensaries, resident John Douglas said.
Dozens of residents came out to the meeting to voice either their support or opposition to the proposal, which would be passed to the City Council for action later this fall no matter how the commissioners voted.
The City Council is expected to take up the issue in October or November.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: vvdailypress.com
Author: Beau Yarbrough
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Freedom Communications
Website: Planning commission gives thumbs-up to marijuana dispensaries
In a split decision, the commission voted Thursday night to recommend that the Hesperia City Council pass a proposed code amendment put forward by a medical marijuana advocacy group.
"With the ban in place, we have 12 dispensaries and they're not regulated," commissioner Julie Jensen said. The city has had an ordinance banning medical marijuana distribution dispensaries since 2005. "Banning medical marijuana isn't going to get rid of it."
"That's been our experience," Principal Planner Dave Reno said.
In theory, the city could fine dispensaries away, as they can levy fines up to $500 a day on dispensaries and their landlords.
Commissioners and medical marijuana proponents pointed to the current dispensaries – all of which city officials say are operating without business licenses – as an untapped source of sales tax or separate special tax.
"You are going to be faced with a choice of making money off these things or spending money" fighting the dispensaries, resident John Douglas said.
Dozens of residents came out to the meeting to voice either their support or opposition to the proposal, which would be passed to the City Council for action later this fall no matter how the commissioners voted.
The City Council is expected to take up the issue in October or November.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: vvdailypress.com
Author: Beau Yarbrough
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Freedom Communications
Website: Planning commission gives thumbs-up to marijuana dispensaries
