GRAND TERRACE MARIJUANA DISPENSARY BAN GETS INITIAL OK

Grand Terrace is on its way to joining other cities that have
prohibited medical-marijuana dispensaries, even though no one has
approached the city about opening one.

The Grand Terrace City Council voted 4-0 Tuesday evening to approve
the first reading of an ordinance that will ban these
dispensaries.

Council member Dan Buchanan was absent.

Other cities that have banned the clinics include Norco, San Jacinto,
Palm Desert, Indio and Rancho Cucamonga.

The ordinance will add a chapter to the city's municipal code banning
the medical-marijuana dispensaries.

City Manager Tom Schwab said that Grand Terrace has not been
approached about opening any dispensaries but is heading off the issue
with the ordinance.

A second reading is scheduled for April 10. If approved, the ordinance
would take effect in 30 days.

Prop. 215, approved by the state's voters in 1996, decriminalized the
use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. But the sale and use of
marijuana is illegal under federal law.

At Tuesday's meeting, resident Thelma Winkler-Beach said she doesn't
favor a medical-marijuana dispensary because the city already has a
pharmacy.

"I hate the drug," said Winkler-Beach. "I wouldn't want to be seen
near a marijuana dispensary."

Councilman Jim Miller said a section of the city's municipal code
allows five facilities, including residential hospices, to dole
medical marijuana to patients. Miller agreed that these facilities
should be allowed to continue the practice.

"They have found that it has eased their pain," Miller
said.

Schwab said Grand Terrace does not have enough law enforcement to deal
with potential problems if a dispensary were to open in the city.