CITY PLACES FULL BAN ON POT DISPENSARIES

Fontana's City Council unanimously passed a new ordinance Tuesday
night prohibiting the operation of medical marijuana dispensaries
within the city.

In April, officials had placed a temporary ban on such businesses
while the issue was being studied. The Planning Commission
subsequently produced an ordinance that bans any storefront
dispensaries.

Such dispensaries, which operate in some California cities, including
Los Angeles, grew out of the passage of Prop. 215, the medical
marijuana law approved by voters in 1996.

In its ordinance, the Planning Commission cited "an increase in crime
in the vicinity of dispensaries ... that has been observed in
communities where medical marijuana dispensaries have been allowed to
operate."

Medical marijuana advocates dispute such claims. But Craig Johnson,
48, of Fontana, who spoke on behalf of medical marijuana users,
admitted he "did not think this community was ready for storefront
dispensaries."