POT PUT BACK IN SPOTLIGHT

The Santa Barbara City Council should lobby state and federal officials to
clarify rules governing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes but
refrain from creating its own local guidelines, the city's Ordinance
Committee recommended Tuesday.

The council is expected to consider the suggestion within a month. If the
council concurs, the decision could effectively squash efforts by local
citizens to establish guidelines on medicinal marijuana use, cultivation,
arrests or seizures within city limits. A local cannabis club, which
distributed medicinal marijuana in Santa Barbara, was disbanded earlier
this year, but activists are trying to resurrect the club.

Medicinal marijuana supporters led by mayoral candidate and Westside
activist Bruce Rittenhouse came to City Hall a year ago urging an ordinance
to implement Prop. 215. The 1996 statewide initiative earned supported from
70 percent of city voters. It legalized marijuana for treatment of cancer,
AIDS and other debilitating diseases and their side effects with a doctor's
recommendation.

But in the past five years, officials in jurisdictions across California
have waded through a murk of confusion on what the proposition, which
conflicts with federal rules that ban pot use, actually guarantees.

The Ordinance Committee -- comprised of City Council members Gil Garcia,
Marty Blum and Gregg Hart, who was absent Tuesday -- has debated the issue
at four public hearings and approached county law enforcement officials for
cooperation in recent months. The county Sheriff's Department and District
Attorney's Office would not support a proposed memorandum of understanding
on local medicinal marijuana protocol, however.

"No general consensus was reached in those discussions," according to a
city report.

Mr. Garcia, also a candidate for mayor, voted for the recommendation
Tuesday, expressing concern that city guidelines enacted without regional
cooperation might give ill patients who use marijuana locally a false sense
of security.

"I think it would," Mr. Garcia said, adding that "I have urged our Police
Department that we have to be somewhat lenient."

Assistant City Attorney Bob Pike on Tuesday told Mr. Garcia and Ms. Blum,
also a candidate for mayor, that the city should instead urge passage of a
proposed state law, SB-187, which would set up statewide protocols.

"If this were to go through, it seems like it would be very helpful," said
Ms. Blum, who also voted for the recommendation.

Those pushing for city rules said patients who use or grow marijuana
already do live with security concerns, mainly fear of arrest. "I recognize
that this ought to be taken care of by the state government," said Dr.
David Bearman, a local physician who has prescribed the controlled
substance. "They have not stepped up to the plate."

Still, "No one is asking you to try to make everything right for the whole
county," Dr. Bearman told the Ordinance Committee. "A journey of a thousand
miles starts with a single step."

"If our (city police) officers don't cite people in the city of Santa
Barbara, the district attorney doesn't get involved," Mr. Rittenhouse said.
"We're back where we were on Day 1. It's shameful."

In other City Hall action, the council voted to spend public money on
several fronts, including:

*A $1.2 million contract with Lash Construction, Inc., for water main
replacement at several sites across the city, including portions of Mission
Ridge Road, Mountain Drive, Carrillo Street and Calle Alamo. The contract
"includes all labor, material and equipment to install 12,500 linear feet
of water main, water valves" and other hardware, according to a city report.

*A $102,000 contract with Lash to build intersection improvements at Laguna
and Mission streets.

"For many years, Roosevelt School officials and parents observed many stop
sign violations at the intersection," according to a city report. "The
violations were likely caused by Mission Street being oriented with Laguna
Street at less than a right angle. This made it easier for southbound
vehicles to roll through. A plan was developed that 'bubbled out' the
northeast corner so the two streets would intersect at more of a right angle."

*In addition, the council authorized $509,000 contract with Lash for sewer
improvements along Las Positas Road.

*An agreement with Decision Management Company, Inc., for the acquisition
and installation of a document imaging and management system for the the
City Clerk's office -- an expenditure not to exceed $57,052.

The system will permit the clerk's office to efficiently index, digitally
archive and electronically share documents.

*A $411,000 agreement with the Downtown Organization for sidewalk cleaning,
landscaping and surface maintenance of the 00-1200 blocks of State Street
and several cross streets -- effective July 1 through June 30. The
organization will wash sidewalks at least once a month, clean and painting
kiosks, planters, fountains and telephone booths.

In addition, the organization will pick up trash, remove graffiti and
replace certain plants.