SURF CITY CONSIDERS MEDICAL MARIJUANA BAN

The Planning Commission Tonight Will Discuss a Proposal to Make
Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Illegal.

Surf City is the latest city in Orange County to consider a ban on
medical marijuana dispensaries.

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing tonight to discuss
the issue.

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

Recently, however, the city has received requests for a dispensary
permit from three Marina High School students, officials said.

The commission held a study session July 24 on the issue.
Commissioners Joe Shaw and Devin Dwyer requested a delay, saying they
were concerned about federal and state conflicts over the issue.

"We should wait until the dust settles on this and it hasn't," Dwyer said.

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

The Huntington 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 medicinal
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, but no action was taken.

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.

"This is for the betterment of the community and access for
legitimate patients," Rob Wayman said.

The Planning Commission meets at 7 tonight in council chambers at
City Hall, 2000 Main St.