MURRIETA: Decision delayed on proposed medical marijuana ban

August 06, 2013 09:20 PM PDT August 06, 2013 09:20 PM PDT MURRIETA: Decision delayed on proposed medical marijuana ban MURRIETA: Decision delayed on proposed medical marijuana ban   Comments ( ) A decision on a proposed blanket prohibition against medical marijuana dispensaries in Murrieta Attorney has been put off until Sept. 3 — but not before the City Council heard from opponents. The Murrieta Attorney City Council was scheduled to take up the matter Tuesday, Aug. 6, but postponed action. Mayor Rick Gibbs said there were questions about details in the ordinance and the attorney who drafted the measure was not present to address them. "Before you pass an ordinance, you better make sure that everybody understands what it says and there are Lawyer in Murrieta no unintended consequences," Gibbs said after the meeting. He said the ordinance was written by an attorney from the San Diego law firm that City Attorney Leslie Devaney works for: Stutz Artiano Shinoff & Holtz. That attorney is expected to attend in September. Murrieta proposes to ban dispensaries — including mobile ones — in all zoning districts, as well as mobile ones. Donald Lambert, of Murrieta, spoke against the measure. "People need a place where they have safe access to it (marijuana), and where they can depend on the consistent quality of the cannabis they are purchasing," Lambert said. The city received a letter from prominent Temecula lawyer Ray Johnson, who wrote that he objected on environmental grounds. Johnson suggested a ban would violate California environmental laws because Murrieta residents will have to drive outside the city to obtain marijuana for medicinal purposes, something that was authorized by a 1996 statewide initiative. He said the extra driving will worsen air quality and traffic. And he said in a city of Murrieta's size -- more than 100,000 -- there are probably roughly 1,800 medical marijuana patients. "I would ask the City Council to consider the legitimate needs of 1,800 city residents who rely on medical marijuana and put aside partisan consideration," he wrote. In other business, the council unanimously approved the $1.62 million purchase of the 60-acre former Bear Creek Airfield property, located along Murrieta Creek at Calle Del Oso Oro. Gibbs said the property will be used as open space. Years later -- when money becomes available -- it could be developed into a neighborhood park without lights, he said. Latest Headlines
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