COLTON JOINS OTHER CITIES WITH MARIJUANA DISPENSARY BAN

COLTON - The City Council has unanimously approved an ordinance
prohibiting the establishment and operation of medical-marijuana dispensaries.

While it is legal in California for doctors to prescribe marijuana to
patients in order to treat a variety of ailments, federal law
prohibits it, said Mark Martinez, an attorney representing Colton.

Faced with the possibility of being charged with a federal crime, he
said it might be prudent for the city to err on the side of caution.

"We have this conflict between these two laws," Martinez said.
"Rather than deal with those types of issues ... it might be
appropriate just to consider an outright prohibition."

Colton joins other San Bernardino Valley cities that have adopted
similar or temporary bans in the past year.

On March 10, the Highland City Council approved a 90-day ordinance
prohibiting medical-marijuana dispensaries. Staff will spend the next
three months researching other cities' zoning and development
standards before recommending regulations to the council.

Since March 2007, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Ontario, Montclair,
Pomona, Claremont and Upland have adopted laws banning the dispensaries.

At its Tuesday evening meeting, the Colton council also authorized
the solicitation of bids for capital improvements at McKinley and Prado parks.

McKinley Park improvements will include new asphalt overlays in the
parking lot and on the basketball court, a handicapped-accessible
walkway, installation of a concrete pad for the bleachers as well as
concrete walkways to existing bleachers and shade structures.

The cost of the project is $138,173.50.

At a cost of $242,631, Prado Park improvements include new playground
equipment and safety surface matting, handicapped-accessible
walkways, an 18-foot gazebo and two picnic tables with concrete pads.