cannabisnews.com: Elk Grove Balks at Medical Pot Elk Grove Balks at Medical Pot Posted by CN Staff on April 11, 2004 at 08:04:20 PT By Michael Kolber -- Bee Staff Writer Source: Sacramento Bee The Elk Grove City Council begrudgingly established rules for medical marijuana dispensaries Wednesday in a decision that fully satisfied neither those who support nor those who oppose the facilities.Council members and the city attorney repeatedly said they do not condone use of the drug, but under state law, the city is required to permit the dispensaries. City officials said they hoped the restrictions they were imposing - including limited hours and locations - would mitigate anticipated problems and might even discourage people from opening the facilities in Elk Grove.The ordinance was approved on a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Jim Cooper, a captain in the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, dissenting. The measure required four votes to pass because it was being introduced as an urgency ordinance, which requires fewer public hearings.City Attorney Anthony Manzanetti said he proposed the urgency ordinance because individuals had contacted the city about opening dispensaries in Elk Grove. Without the restrictions the City Council imposed Wednesday, it would have been forced to allow the dispensaries without any limitations.Instead, the council laid down a list of restrictions that included prohibiting the use and cultivation of marijuana on the premises, banning the sale of drug paraphernalia, removing waste twice a day and requiring drug tests for store employees. The dispensaries are restricted to areas zoned commercial that are at least 1,000 feet from any school.Proposition 215, an initiative California voters approved in 1996, decriminalized the possession and cultivation of marijuana for medical treatment recommended by a doctor."Our hands are tied under Prop. 215," said Councilman Michael Leary, a sergeant in the Sheriff's Department. "I think we're obviously in a world that is more and more accepting of drugs into our lives, unfortunately."Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/balk.htmSource: Sacramento Bee (CA)Author: Michael Kolber -- Bee Staff WriterPublished: Sunday, April 11, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Sacramento BeeContact: opinion sacbee.comWebsite: http://www.sacbee.com/Transcript: Hearing on Medical Marijuanahttp://freedomtoexhale.com/hearing.htmMedical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on April 11, 2004 at 14:26:56 PT Some things I wonder about 1. How many DEA agents are there?2. What percentage of them are going to be diagnosed with cancer annually, based on statistics for their profession?3. How many of them will be undergoing chemotherapy at any one time?4. How can those who are friends with the ones undergoing chemotherapy live with themselves for not allowing them to have pot? Or is sucking up to misery and not being able to do anything meaningful about it just part of an agent's life? I just wonder about those things. How can they?I'll bet they get cancer at a higher rate than people in less stressful and more fulfilling occupations.The whole thing is pretty sad, all of it. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment