CITY ROLLS OUT LAWS TO MAKE MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES ILLEGAL

San Juan Capistrano Adopts an Ordinance to Prevent Opening
Distribution Centers and Introduces a Licensing Restriction.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO -- The City Council on Tuesday unanimously
adopted an interim urgency ordinance restricting the establishment of
medical marijuana dispensaries.

At the same time, the council introduced a new ordinance restricting
business licenses issued for activities that are "determined to be in
conflict with state or federal law." While California voters more
than a decade ago approved medical use of marijuana in the state,
possession still is prohibited under federal law.

The new ordinance would effectively prohibit marijuana dispensaries
because they would violate federal law.

An inquiry about the possible establishment of a dispensary in the
city spurred the council to action.

"Law enforcement's concern is that many of these operations are
thinly veiled sales of marijuana for profit," said Lt. Mike Betzler,
chief of police services.

Councilman Lon Uso said he has not made up his mind.

"I don't have a fear or phobia of having a medical marijuana
dispensing facility in San Juan, but before I make a decision I need
to hear all the information," Uso said. "If a doctor feels that this
is a proper treatment for an illness, we should be considerate of that."

On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a program
that will issue photo identification cards to users of medical
marijuana, joining 31 other California counties that have the ID program.