Council OKs Ordinance Against Mobile Marijuana Dispensaries
Going against the protests of several area residents, Menifee City Council members tonight voted 4-1 to approve an ordinance prohibiting the...
http://www.menifee247.com/2013/07/council-oks-ordinance-against-mobile-marijuana-dispensaries.html
Going against the protests of several area residents, Menifee City Council members tonight voted 4-1 to approve an ordinance prohibiting the presence of mobile marijuana dispensaries and delivery of marijuana from a mobile dispensary within city limits.
Julie Biggs, city attorney, told council members that this amendment to the Menifee Municipal Code was crafted using a recent ordinance by the City of Riverside as a model. Riverside is one of several California cities that have not only banned marijuana dispensary storefronts, but also the delivery of marijuana to residents by vans, trucks or other vehicles.
"Our problems are not necessarily with the product, but the fact that in many cities, there are regular muggings, robberies and crimes committed against these vans," said Biggs, who referred to such incidents included in the written proposal. "It seems to be that when you allow mobile delivery of marijuana, these kinds of incidents happen."
Biggs stressed that the ordinance does not prohibit the use of medical marijuana in Menifee. Citizens with the legal right to use medical marijuana still would be allowed to purchase it from a licensed medical professional. The question of local access to the drug by those prescribed to use it was of great concern to several speakers, however.
"I have heard your compassion expressed about other items tonight," said Kathleen Zamanjahroni, who said she is a retired pediatric nurse and is a medical cannabis patient. "Please, please do not make your people go back to illegal means to obtain this drug. I have seen sick people put in jail because of such legislation. I don't want to see our people go through this."
Most of those who spoke out against the prohibitive ordinance were seniors who are prescribed medical marijuana, and many live in neighboring communities such as Nuevo and Riverside. One exception was Menifee resident Christopher Kettner, 28.
"I have my medical marijuana card," Kettner said. "For the first time in 10 years, I've been able to sleep every night. If you outlaw this ... I don't have a problem driving to Orange County or Los Angeles to pick up my medicine, but I'm certain there are others here who don't have that ability."
Council member Tom Fuhrman, the lone vote in opposition to the ordinance, said, "I can't see how a police officer could make any kind of stop of someone and enforce this. If the only way we could enforce this is to set up a sting, I'm unwilling to spend police dollars on a fruitless effort. I'm in favor of delivery of medical marijuana to those who need it, and I plan to vote against this."
Council member Wallace Edgerton, in prefacing his vote to approve the ordinance, expressed mixed emotions on the issue because of his overall opposition to the laws against marijuana use by the general public.
"I'm going to support this ordinance, but I would be remiss if I didn't say I'm troubled," Edgerton said. "For 10 years, I've been teaching at Mt. San Jacinto (College) to my students that they should push for the legalization of marijuana. We should decriminalize marijuana. If you really care about the kids, legalize it. Why not regulate it and collect the taxes?
"I am supporting this ordinance with mixed emotions. I just wish we would legalize it so we can get over this hump. I want my students to know that even while I support this ordinance, I'm well aware it's an ongoing issue with laws going in a direction they shouldn't be going."
Julie Biggs, city attorney, told council members that this amendment to the Menifee Municipal Code was crafted using a recent ordinance by the City of Riverside as a model. Riverside is one of several California cities that have not only banned marijuana dispensary storefronts, but also the delivery of marijuana to residents by vans, trucks or other vehicles.
"Our problems are not necessarily with the product, but the fact that in many cities, there are regular muggings, robberies and crimes committed against these vans," said Biggs, who referred to such incidents included in the written proposal. "It seems to be that when you allow mobile delivery of marijuana, these kinds of incidents happen."
Biggs stressed that the ordinance does not prohibit the use of medical marijuana in Menifee. Citizens with the legal right to use medical marijuana still would be allowed to purchase it from a licensed medical professional. The question of local access to the drug by those prescribed to use it was of great concern to several speakers, however.
"I have heard your compassion expressed about other items tonight," said Kathleen Zamanjahroni, who said she is a retired pediatric nurse and is a medical cannabis patient. "Please, please do not make your people go back to illegal means to obtain this drug. I have seen sick people put in jail because of such legislation. I don't want to see our people go through this."
Most of those who spoke out against the prohibitive ordinance were seniors who are prescribed medical marijuana, and many live in neighboring communities such as Nuevo and Riverside. One exception was Menifee resident Christopher Kettner, 28.
"I have my medical marijuana card," Kettner said. "For the first time in 10 years, I've been able to sleep every night. If you outlaw this ... I don't have a problem driving to Orange County or Los Angeles to pick up my medicine, but I'm certain there are others here who don't have that ability."
Council member Tom Fuhrman, the lone vote in opposition to the ordinance, said, "I can't see how a police officer could make any kind of stop of someone and enforce this. If the only way we could enforce this is to set up a sting, I'm unwilling to spend police dollars on a fruitless effort. I'm in favor of delivery of medical marijuana to those who need it, and I plan to vote against this."
Council member Wallace Edgerton, in prefacing his vote to approve the ordinance, expressed mixed emotions on the issue because of his overall opposition to the laws against marijuana use by the general public.
"I'm going to support this ordinance, but I would be remiss if I didn't say I'm troubled," Edgerton said. "For 10 years, I've been teaching at Mt. San Jacinto (College) to my students that they should push for the legalization of marijuana. We should decriminalize marijuana. If you really care about the kids, legalize it. Why not regulate it and collect the taxes?
"I am supporting this ordinance with mixed emotions. I just wish we would legalize it so we can get over this hump. I want my students to know that even while I support this ordinance, I'm well aware it's an ongoing issue with laws going in a direction they shouldn't be going."
Way to go Menifee, make the legitimate cannabis patients suffer for no good reason. Push all the business to the illegal street dealers. This city seems to be heading in the wrong direction, trying to move foward as a city while passing pointless ordinances only hurts the city as a whole. Tip of the hat to Tom Furhman for being the lone voice of reason
ReplyDeleteYOU are generous in referring to Menifee as a 'city". Forming this city was no more than an excuse for a few"runaway egos" to wield power. Everyday, small-minded, petty and careless decisions are being made by these leaders-in-name-only . The so-called "City of Menifee" is an embarrassment to the nomenclature.
DeleteIf I lived in a "so-called" city that was an embarrassment I would be on the next bus outta town.
DeleteAnd we are leaving, not by bus, however, but by limo and moving vans. Cannot wait to leave this anti-life ' pit" of a a pretend community.
DeletePathetic is the only word that applies to this horrifying environment.
We look forward to your "caravan of limos" leaving town. I hope the dustpan brigade will follow closely behind you.
Delete"...not only banned marijuana dispensary storefronts, but also the delivery of marijuana to residents by vans, trucks or other vehicles."
ReplyDeleteAs long as you have a Recommendation you can transport medical marijuana. In August of 2005 the California Highway Patrol Headquarters issued instruction to all commands that motorists who had a doctor's recommendation for marijuana consumption and who were transporting marijuana would no longer be a focus of California police. This new policy was brought about by a legal and successful suit against the State of California by attorney Joe Elford and Americans for Safe Access. The suit was due to repeated instances of marijuana being confiscated during traffic stops by the CHP, and repeated instances of motorists being issued citations for illegal possession.
I'm sorry Manifee is not up-to-date with all the legal decisions concerning medical marijuana.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/CHP_policy_update_memo.pdf
they dont come in "vans" that have it advertised on them. this stops nothing. And if you think this will slow down the crime rate than youre just plain stupid. You dont see dudes on the street selling beer do you?
ReplyDeleteIm confused. The mobile delivery business generates revenue which is paid back to the city in the form of business taxes. Without a mobile delivery business to generate revenue then the city does not receive those operating and business taxes paid for by the owners. The storefront dispensaries generate revenue and pay taxes. After a decision to prohibit them, the potential for business owner tax dollars are not extinct.
ReplyDeleteIn the summary of the vote, the mention of robberies and muggings associated with mobile medical dispensary companies had been a concern. Although I have not read or heard of an reported crimes or incidents through the media. Which leads to the question did we just create something to protect against, when there was no threat at all? Are we making decisions for the future, or are we referencing back to the past which we'll never see again. The "Mom and Pop" shop mentality is slowly fading due to the economic panic we have yet to endure.
Still confused on what image the city wants to take on. It seems they are just following everyone else with no clear identity.
What is the point of having the people vote on measures to decriminalize marijuana when the lower level governments are going to do whatever the heck they feel like doing? Prop 215 is suppose to allow this and yet the municipalities are dictating what they feel like doing.
ReplyDeleteSeems like Mr. Edgerton wasn't quite sure what direction he was going when talking about this issue so maybe he took some direction from someone else on the council and voted the way he was being told to vote. I'm not sure honestly how he can be teaching students when he can't make a decision on his own, speak his mind and vote for the right thing. Sick people are suffering with no concern. What harm can be done by a vehicle pulling up to a house for a delivery, dropping or the prescription and leaving? Avon delivers still I think as well as all the pizza parlors in this city yet we are denying sick people what gives them relief. Maybe these people should be able to have this delivered to their mailbox and we won't have the extra traffic on the road while all the roads are being torn up in this city. Way to go council. One more victory for the people with all the power. Hope most of you are voted out of office when the time comes.
ReplyDeleteEdgerton started his lecture stating that he would support the ban, but then began babbling about the virtues of pot, and that it should be legalized.
ReplyDeleteWhen the pot supporters started cheering him on, he began to waffle, and continued his rhetoric about legalizing drugs, etc.
There were more cheers and an "amen".
Finally, when he wrapped up his long speech, he flip-flopped back to saying "but I support a ban". This confused his pot smoking supporters.
Seems Wally can never make up his mind and stick with it.
Sometimes a nickname is given in jest and sometimes it is earned.
DeleteThe nickname you are referring to is Waffling Wally. He was called that when he was a City Councilman in Long Beach.
DeleteHe grandstands too. Got a nickname for that??
I do have a name for that, but they probably won't print it. His inability to maintain a train of thought becomes more and more acute with each meeting. His regression to the past with the rambling lectures would suggest the rigors of serving on the council are becoming a burden for him.
DeleteWonderful post! I am glad that i found you post! Thank you for this great share!
ReplyDeleteAmazes me that a person who is an educator of our future would be so hypocritical. Touts "For 10 years, I've been teaching at Mt. San Jacinto (College) to my students that they should push for the legalization of marijuana. We should decriminalize marijuana. If you really care about the kids, legalize it.", and that they should push for what is right, yet he turns around and proves the reason less & less people vote... Our voices are not heard, and our voted for opinion is not followed. To me he is saying "I think legalizing it is right but I am not going to fight for it, in fact vote the opposite", was he coerced into his vote??? What does that mean he stands for??? Corruption?? I am definitely glad he is not a teacher for any class I have taken, I expect my teachers to earn the respect they feel they deserve. I for one cannot respect a person who talks out of both side of their mouths. I have zero respect for Council member Wallace "Waffling Wally" Edgerton.
ReplyDelete