rich420

WHITTIER MAY BAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

WHITTIER - City officials here appear poised to reverse ground and ban medical marijuana dispensaries.

The action could come after nearly 2 1/2 years ago when the Whittier City Council voted 3-2 to allow such businesses with a limited area in the city.

But the council voted 3-2 earlier this week to direct staff to draft an ordinance prohibiting them.

"I went for it the last time because they were proposing an honest legitimate business," said Councilman Greg Nordbak who in 2006 had voted for the ordinance restricting, but allowing the dispensaries.

"They were anything but," he said. "For all those reasons until they clean up their act, I won't support it a second time."

Nordbak is referring to a now-closed Whittier Collective medical marijuana dispensary in the Washington-Whittier Medical Center.

He was joined by Councilwoman Cathy Warner, who had opposed the ordinance in 2006 and Councilman Joe Vinatieri, who wasn't on the council at the time.

Warner said there were problems about the Whittier Collective.

"The dispensary happened to be next door to a dental office that I visit," she said. "That dental office would complain that the smell of marijuana was coming into their office through the heating and ventilation system.

Mayor Bob Henderson, who had supported the ordinance in 2006, and Councilman Owen Newcomer, who had opposed it, this time opposed making any changes.

Henderson said that to his knowledge the previous dispensary always followed all of the city rules.

"The police never had an incident at that location," he said.

This new direction could affect a Pico Rivera-based non-profit group, Seventh and Hope, that has a lease to to open a dispensary at 8116 Byron Road, Suite D.

The group filed an application with the city and is now doing minor revisions.

"It's really disappointing news," said Katherine Clifton, attorney for the group that is made up of Dolores Enriquez, her son, Robert Ortiz, and friend, Sandra Newby.

Clifton said she just found out Thursday and hadn't had a chance to get reaction from her clients.

But she called the decision disillusioning.

"They're welcoming new businesses on one hand and at the same time unrealistically proscribing a business that the California state Legislature and public has put their stamp approval on," Clifton said.

Clifton also said that her clients were not involved with the Whittier Collective.

Newcomer said he changed his mind because the federal government now is saying they will enforce the law in states where medical marijuana is legal.

"We have an ordinance and applications," Newcomer said. "If we try to revoke them, what we'll end up with is a lawsuit and the cost to deal with this situation. The federal government has changed its position. I've changed my position."

Vinatier said he isn't as worried because a number of cities, including La Mirada and Pico Rivera, have banned them and not been sued.



This article grabbed my attention because I live on the border of Whittier and La Habra, thought I would share.

Negation

For all what reasons? He didn't even say anything...

Texas Toker

ofc not . the suits never do.

__________________


You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas. -Davy Crockett
I hate Obama and Pelosi as much as you hate Bush.

dirtbomb

Typical narrow-minded garbage, from that area.
When I lived in Southern California, years ago, we used to call the place "Shittier".

__________________

----------------------------------------------------
Uh, I forgot, Man. What? Oh yeah I dig. Never mind.
Enjoy all the delicious flavours
of our posting guidelines!
http://www.marijuana.com/site-feedba...uidelines.html