Lit_Match

Marijuana collectives get the OK
01-09-09|The Desert Sun|Stefanie Frith and K Kaufmann

The city of Palm Springs is poised to become the first and only place in Riverside County to allow medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives.

The Palm Springs City Council voted 3-2 Wednesday to create a draft ordinance allowing medical marijuana collectives and operatives.

Councilwoman Ginny Foat and Councilman Lee Weigel voted no, saying they disagree with some of some ordinance details.

The law would:

allow only two collectives in the city's industrial areas;

prohibit the establishments within 1,000 feet of each other and within 500 feet of schools, churches, public playgrounds or parks, youth centers and residential areas;

allow collectives and cooperatives to grow medical marijuana on the premises.

The council will consider the new ordinance, and if approved, will take effect 30 after the vote.

The city has six dispensaries operating illegally and another was waiting for the council's vote.

Mayor Steve Pougnet said these dispensaries “took advantage of the system” and should not be grandfathered in.

City Attorney Doug Holland said the city can take action against the currently operating dispensaries.

City Manager David Ready suggested a lottery to choose which two collectives will be allowed to operate in the city.

“I am in favor of having a small number (of collectives),” Councilman Rick Hutcheson said. “It gives a great deal of security to patients because there is strength in numbers.”

Weigel said the number of collectives should be limited to less than three. Instead, he said there are seven in the city and another three waiting in the wings.

“(I am afraid) the collectives will grow like weeds (without a limit),” Weigel said. “I don't think we've got 10 coffee shops in the city.”

Palm Springs Police Chief David Dominguez said there have been two documented crimes related to the collectives in the city. He suggested that employees of collectives receive background checks by the police department and video surveillance be installed in and outside of the collective.

The law allows nonprofit collectives and cooperative “by right” in areas of the city zoned for industrial use, meaning the dispensaries only need a regular business license.

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