CITY SET TO PROLONG POT SHOP BAN

Officials Cite State-Fed Dispute Over Legal Marijuana.

PLACENTIA -- City officials said the City Council will vote this month
on extending a temporary ban on marijuana dispensaries enacted last
year. They said the city will need that extra time to craft effective
ordinances to govern the trade in medical marijuana in Placentia.

City Administrator Bob Dominguez said recent action by the county on
the issue and continuing conflict between state and federal
authorities over medical pot sales added to complications.

"It will be up for consideration by City Council whether to extend the
moratorium," he said. "The city needs to evaluate how it conducts its
affairs. There's still this conflict between state and federal laws.
It'd be nice if they could get their act together."

The original ban expires this month.

Placentia is one of a number of cities in Orange County to curb
people's ability to set up marijuana dispensaries within city limits.

After four months of debate, the Orange County Board of Supervisors
recently voted to establish a photo ID requirement for uses of medical
marijuana, joining 31 other California counties that already have the
ID program following voter approval of Proposition 215.

Recognizing O.C. cities' reluctance to allow dispensaries, the county
supervisors said in mid July it would study permitting the shops in
some unincorporated areas.