Marijuana.com

Originally Posted by newgrowerNY

Officials seek to ban medical marijuana outlets
04.02.07|Contra Costa Times - Annotated -

Months before a moratorium is due to expire, Pleasanton's police chief and city attorney are proposing an outright ban on medical marijuana dispensaries in town.

Citing incidents of armed robberies, burglaries, vagrancy and resale to non qualified persons in other communities with marijuana dispensaries, Police Chief Michael Fraser and City Attorney Michael Roush will recommend Tuesday that the City Council adopt an ordinance making it illegal to operate a dispensary in the city.

When Pleasanton extended its moratorium last summer, the council asked for information on whether the community's needs for medical marijuana were being met, about Alameda County's identification card program and dispensaries operating in the county, and whether any communities with dispensaries did not have criminal problems.

According to the city staff, the only local organization prescribing medical marijuana is Tri-City Health Center in Fremont. The staff at the health center said some patients do not feel comfortable going to dispensaries in Hayward or Oakland, due to other unsavory customers and vagrants outside the establishments.

The staff report lists other communities with dispensaries, including Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Berkeley, Pacheco, Santa Clara and San Francisco.

Of communities that allow dispensaries, officials from Berkeley and Arcata reported no significant increase in police calls in those areas, but added that there is a problem with medical marijuana resold to non qualified persons, including minors.

Based on the information gathered, Fraser and Roush contend that medical marijuana dispensaries should not be allowed to operate in Pleasanton.