H.B. CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS MEDICAL MARIJUANA BAN

Council Members Will Hold a Public Hearing Monday Night on a Proposal
to Ban Medical Marijuana Dispensaries From the City.

HUNTINGTON BEACH - The City Council will consider an ordinance Monday
night that would ultimately ban medical marijuana dispensaries from
opening in the city.

This comes after the Planning Commission's September vote in favor of
being consistent with federal law, which considers medical marijuana
dispensaries illegal. Now it's up to the council to make a final
decision after a hearing in which residents can voice their thoughts.

""This is about sick people wanting to stay within the law, and be
able to use a potent and effective God-given medicine without being
considered criminals," said Craig Marshall, a 55-year-old resident of
Huntington Beach who has contacted the city about the issue.

The city has no medical marijuana dispensaries. An application for
one in 2005 never panned out.

The City Council voted in 2005 to permit medical marijuana
dispensaries in specified locations to comply with the state's
Compassionate Use Act, which allowed people to use medical marijuana
in California.

At the time, a U.S. Supreme Court decision was pending on the state
act's relationship to the Federal Controlled Substances Act. In June
of that year, the court upheld the federal act.

A month after that decision, Mayor Gil Coerper asked the council to
reverse the city's law.

A representative from Compassionate Caregivers on Behalf of Medical
Marijuana Patients has said the dispensaries could bring the city
more than $100,000 a month in revenue.

Other cities considering the ban include Fountain Valley, Fullerton,
Newport Beach, Seal Beach and Cypress.