MEDICINAL MARIJUANA SITES HALTED

EL MONTE - In an effort to allow time for inconsistencies between
state and federal laws to be reconciled, the City Council has extend a
moratorium for a year on medical marijuana dispensaries.

City Attorney Clarke Moseley said the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 is
at the root of the city's decision to extend the moratorium, which
will begin Saturday.

"What we have known is there is a big disagreement between the federal
and state governments over Proposition 215 and that's one reason for
us to extend the moratorium," Moseley told the council Tuesday.

Proposition 215 was approved by California voters a decade ago and
allows marijuana to be used for medicinal purposes.

Referring to a decision made last year by the U.S. Supreme Court in
Gonzales v. Raich, city officials said state laws allowing
distribution of marijuana for medical reasons do not shield users or
distributors from possible criminal prosecution under federal
narcotics laws.

The city, which does not have any pot dispensaries, first approved an
urgency ordinance last July and August.

City officials said more reasons for the urgency ordinance include
allowing time for the city to study the impact medical marijuana
dispensaries could have on public health, safety and welfare in the
community.

David Sommers, spokesman for county Supervisor Don Knabe, said areas
like Hacienda Heights, which has a medical marijuana dispensary, can
face obstacles.

"Part of the challenge since these dispensaries have become part of
our community is that there are a small minority of people that abuse
what the dispensaries are all about," Sommers said. "The fact that
within the dispensaries there are large amounts of cash and marijuana
that's something thieves would want to have."