ROSEVILLE MAY BAN POT SHOPS

High Court's Ruling Is Spurring Several Cities To Revisit The Issue.

Invoking last week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling, a Roseville councilman says
city officials are poised to become the first in the region to rescind a
law allowing local medical marijuana dispensaries. The City Council will
vote tonight whether to repeal a year-old ordinance regulating where and
how so-called pot shops can operate in town.

"Now it's been determined once and for all that federal law trumps state
law," Roseville Councilman F.C. "Rocky" Rockholm said.

"I'm not opposed to people getting relief from pain. If (marijuana) is
really that beneficial, then I think prescriptions need to be issued and
pharmacies should be dispensing it."

Bolstered by the Supreme Court's decision that federal authorities can
prosecute medical marijuana users in the 10 states - California voters
approved Proposition 215 in 1996 - where medical marijuana use is legal,
other Sacramento area officials say they're also taking a second look at
their policies. "In light of the new ruling, I think it's worth
discussing," Elk Grove City Councilman James Cooper said.

Cooper said he plans to ask his colleagues to reconsider the issue at their
next meeting.

Even Citrus Heights Mayor Bret Daniels, a staunch supporter of medical
marijuana use, said the court's decision will likely force another look at
the city's ordinance, which allows dispensaries to operate with some
restrictions.

"The difficult thing will be determining how an applicant can work within
the law, which is basically, virtually impossible at this point," Daniels said.

"I watched one parent die of cancer and a second parent being treated,"
Daniels said.

"I would've done anything in my power to comfort them. We have so many more
drugs that are so much more dangerous, I find it incredible that we can't
get past the stigma and recognize that many people benefit from medicinal
marijuana."

Roseville, Elk Grove and Citrus Heights are among the many California
cities that regulate dispensaries.

Rocklin and Lincoln simply banned them altogether, while Sacramento County,
Rancho Cordova and Galt passed moratoriums on new dispensaries, giving
officials time to craft guidelines.

Medical marijuana advocates, however, say that city officials are using the
court's ruling as an easy excuse to ban dispensaries.

"Unfortunately, that's the wrong thing to do," said Ryan Landers,
California director of the American Alliance for Medical Cannibus.

Landers said he expects other California cities will soon follow Roseville,
adding that many officials were waiting for the Supreme Court decision.

Landers, who uses marijuana to help him eat, control nausea and take
medicines for full blown AIDS, said banning dispensaries won't keep
patients from finding a source for marijuana.

"It's been proven that, legal or not, patients are going to access their
medication, whether they have to drive 200 miles or go to street dealers to
do it."

Rancho Cordova Councilman David Sander was among those closely watching the
court case.

In September, the Rancho Cordova City Council passed a moratorium on
dispensaries that is in effect until July 30.

"We knew this was going on and so the rest of the City Council wanted to
sit back to wait and see what happened," Sander said.

"I was ready to vote on an outright ban and with the resolution of this
case, I believe that's the direction we'll probably be going."

Galt was also developing guidelines when the ruling was announced.

Now, Police Chief Doug Matthews said the matter will probably be dropped.

Daniels, and other advocates, say the only option now is for a change at
the federal level.

Congress is set to vote today on a spending bill amendment that would
prohibit the use of federal money to pursue medical marijuana cases in
states where it is legal.

Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville, will oppose the amendment, according to
his press secretary, Laura Blackann.

"Congressman Doolittle supports the existing federal, legal process for
determining the safety, and effectiveness of drugs and opposes efforts to
circumvent this process by legalizing marijuana for medical use without
valid, clinical evidence and the approval of the (Food and Drug
Administration)," Blackann said.