DAVIS ACTS TO REGULATE POT

Council OKs an urgency ordinance requiring a permit to sell
marijuana.

The city of Davis on Monday joined a growing number of municipalities
in the Sacramento region that have passed measures to regulate the
sale of medicinal marijuana.

The Davis City Council voted unanimously to adopt a 45-day urgency
ordinance that would require retailers of medicinal marijuana to
obtain a special city permit before selling their wares. City
attorneys called Monday's action a de facto temporary moratorium on
pot sales because it effectively bans the sale of medicinal marijuana
for 45 days, the time in which a special permit could be issued.

The Rancho Cordova City Council also voted for a 45-day moratorium
Monday night.

During the 45 days that the Davis measure is in effect, city leaders
hope to develop a permanent ordinance to regulate the sale of medical
marijuana. Such an ordinance could range from a permanent ban on sales
of therapeutic cannabis to establishing zoning laws that outline how
much and where marijuana could be sold.

"Recently we got a call from a member of the public asking about our
rules and regulations (on selling medical mari juana)," Davis Police
Capt. Steve Pierce told council members. "And we have none."

Davis City Councilman Don Saylor spoke in support of the measure,
saying it "allows this community (time) to assess what this issue is
all about."

Currently, Davis officials are aware of no vendors who sell marijuana
within the city limits. They said people who use medicinal marijuana
have told them that buyers of cannabis travel to the Bay Area,
Roseville or Colfax to buy pot that has been prescribed by their doctors.

In recent months, several Sacramento area cities have adopted
ordinances that regulate the sale of medical marijuana.

Rocklin city officials voted last month to ban the sale of medicinal
marijuana. The cities of Auburn, Citrus Heights and Elk Grove adopted
measures that place restrictions on where and how many marijuana
stores may operate within city limits.

The city of Dixon passed an urgency ordinance last week banning the
sale of medicinal marijuana until a permanent ordinance can be
established.

The recent interest by California cities in adopting ordinances that
regulate the sale of marijuana was sparked in part by the passage of
SB 420, which went into effect in January. The bill allows cities to
adopt rules regarding the sale of medicinal marijuana within their
borders.

In 1996, voters approved Proposition 215, which legalized the sale of
medical marijuana. Local jurisdictions have had little control over
the operation of pot stores since they were legalized.

Berkeley resident Charlie Pappas, who uses medicinal marijuana, told
Davis city leaders that he supported the city adopting regulations
regarding cannabis sales and hopes many people will get involved in
the crafting of the rules. He said Berkeley leaders did not adopt any
marijuana ordinances and now the issue will be decided by the voters
in a ballot measure.

"I think the more discussion, the better. And then people get
informed," said Pappas.

Davis City Councilwoman Sue Greenwald said she hoped the council acts
quickly to adopt rules regarding the sale of marijuana.

"There are people out there, cancer patients and such, who really need
relief," she said.