CITY MAY BAN MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

City Council Could Vote As Early As Next Month On Outright Ban On
Storefront Dispensaries

SANTA ANA City officials are moving toward a permanent ban on
medical-marijuana dispensaries, following the lead of several other
Orange County cities.

The city council could vote as early as next month on an outright ban
on storefront dispensaries and other suppliers of medical marijuana.
The proposed law would not apply to hospitals, hospices or other
state-licensed care centers.

State law allows for the use of marijuana for medical purposes, but
federal law prohibits any use of marijuana. In Santa Ana, city
planners and attorneys say they're not willing to sign off on
businesses that break federal law, even if state law says it's ok.

The city has had a temporary ban on marijuana dispensaries in place
for nearly two years. The proposal now headed toward a council vote
would make that ban permanent.

Other Orange County cities, including Anaheim and Costa Mesa, have
already banned medical-marijuana dispensaries, according to a report
given to Santa Ana's public safety committee late Tuesday. At least
thirty other California cities have also banned dispensaries, and 70
more have enacted temporary moratoriums.