MARIJUANA COLLECTIVES GET THE OK

The city of Palm Springs is poised to become the first and only place in
Riverside County to allow medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives.

The Palm Springs City Council voted 3-2 Wednesday to create a draft
ordinance allowing medical marijuana collectives and operatives.

Councilwoman Ginny Foat and Councilman Lee Weigel voted no, saying they
disagree with some of some ordinance details.

The law would:

- - allow only two collectives in the city's industrial areas;

- - prohibit the establishments within 1,000 feet of each other and within
500 feet of schools, churches, public playgrounds or parks, youth centers
and residential areas;

- - allow collectives and cooperatives to grow medical marijuana on the
premises.

The council will consider the new ordinance, and if approved, will take
effect 30 after the vote.

The city has six dispensaries operating illegally and another was waiting
for the council's vote.

Mayor Steve Pougnet said these dispensaries "took advantage of the system"
and should not be grandfathered in.

City Attorney Doug Holland said the city can take action against the
currently operating dispensaries.

City Manager David Ready suggested a lottery to choose which two
collectives will be allowed to operate in the city.

"I am in favor of having a small number (of collectives)," Councilman Rick
Hutcheson said. "It gives a great deal of security to patients because
there is strength in numbers."

Weigel said the number of collectives should be limited to less than
three. Instead, he said there are seven in the city and another three
waiting in the wings.

"(I am afraid) the collectives will grow like weeds (without a limit),"
Weigel said. "I don't think we've got 10 coffee shops in the city."

Palm Springs Police Chief David Dominguez said there have been two
documented crimes related to the collectives in the city. He suggested
that employees of collectives receive background checks by the police
department and video surveillance be installed in and outside of the
collective.

The law allows nonprofit collectives and cooperative "by right" in areas
of the city zoned for industrial use, meaning the dispensaries only need a
regular business license.