COMMISSION NEXT STOP FOR DESERT HOT SPRINGS POT QUESTION

The Desert Hot Springs City Council voted Monday to have the Planning
Commission weigh a ban on medical marijuana facilities at a meeting
next week rather than make an immediate decision.

The council's 5-0 vote sends the Planning Commission two draft
ordinances for consideration at its Nov. 17 meeting: One would
prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries and the other would regulate
the outlets.

The city draft ordinance regulating medical marijuana would prohibit
for-profit storefront dispensaries, and allow only for cooperatives
or collectives in light-industrial zone districts.

The council is expected to consider the commission's recommendation
during its Dec.16 meeting.

Mayor Yvonne Parks said she is "still undecided" on the matter after
the meeting. "I won't divulge my leanings -- I may change my mind."

Councilman Karl Baker supports an ordinance that would permit
cooperatives or collectives.

"There are people who do need help from medical marijuana, and if we
can possibly support that, I would like to see us do it," he said.

For Monday's special meeting, the council was provided with 2008
report to the California Chiefs of Police Association that cited
various news reports on crimes related to marijuana possession.

Several, but not all, of the articles dealt with medical marijuana.
Baker told Desert Hot Springs Police Chief Patrick Williams the
articles could have cited 7-Eleven convenience stores and shown the
same crime statistics.

The ordinance that would regulate medical marijuana stipulates that
facilities could not be within a 1,000-foot radius of churches,
temples, schools, playgrounds or day care facilities.

Baker said those restrictions would make it incredibly difficult to
open a facility in Desert Hot Springs -- unless the city succeeds in
annexing the industrial area to its southeast.

The council had considered whether to ban the dispensaries during an
Oct. 28 meeting, but it decided to delay action and was expected to
reach a decision at Monday's meeting.

A city moratorium on dispensaries will expire Feb. 7, 2009.