At its Oct. 20 regular meeting, the Anderson City Council will hold a public hearing and consider whether, as an urgency measure, it should continue for another four months placing a moratorium on the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries, collectives and cooperatives.
Planning Director John Stokes, who suggested the original 90-day moratorium that started on July 21 and expires Oct. 20, is requesting additional time to research similar ordinances under consideration in Shasta County as well as other areas of the state.
The original moratorium was considered as a way to stop Gina Munday from opening The Green Heart, a medical marijuana collective, at 3056 West Center St. on July 22.
However, Munday moved up the opening of her collective by three days, thus beating the original moratorium by nearly two days.
Stokes said the new moratorium is different in that it is a zoning ordinance that would prohibit dispensaries, cooperatives and collectives as "allowable uses or home occupations" throughout the city of Anderson.
"At this time, we are not taking a position on the previously-opened collective. I see no good purpose in trying to shut them down," said Stokes.
Rather, Stokes said he is trying to stave off a rush of similar dispensaries, cooperatives and collectives from opening or operating within the city.
"It appears there is a bit of a gold rush mentality out there right now," Stokes said of the rush in some communities to establish such storefront operations.
Stokes pointed to Redding, which had just four such collectives operating in June. By late September, the Record Searchlight was reporting as many as a dozen such establishments were open for business with others in the planning stages.
Anderson has seen one other entrepreneur attempt to start a home-based delivery service of medical marijuana. That endeavor was set to kick off operations on Oct. 1.
The public hearing is set for 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 1887 Howard.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 3
CerebralAlchemist writes:
Any other legitimate business causing a 'gold rush mentality' would be welcomed with open arms (and has been in the past)... why do your personal views continue to interfere with legitimate business?
Federally, nothing can be done to the city for allowing it, locally... it is legal and guidlines have been handed down from our Attorney General.
All I can figure is that you don't want Anderson to benefit from the tax revenue. Why?
Tammohawk writes:
Or, they are afraid of our district attorney who is now putting together a task force to shut all of these dispensaries down. Methinks he's going to try to use the federal law. Irregardless of the fact that it is legal in this state, passed by a majority of the voters.
CerebralAlchemist writes:
San Diego tried that to no avail. I hope the DA figures that out before wasting our money.
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