MORATORIUM ON POT DISPENSARIES LOSES COUNCIL VOTE

An "urgency" interim ordinance to establish a moratorium on medical
marijuana dispensaries failed 3-2 Wednesday during Cathedral City's
City Council meeting.

Then, Councilman Greg Pettis brought forth a motion for city staff to
write an ordinance within 60 days to regulate medical marijuana
dispensaries. It also failed 3 to 2.

Now, council members are waiting for a report from City Attorney
Charles Green to see if they can vote on another moratorium on
medical marijuana dispensaries without the "urgency" label, which
requires a super-majority vote of 4-1 to pass. Without it, a majority
of 3-2 would be enough to proceed.

Pettis described the two no votes as a waste of time.

If the urgency interim ordinance had succeeded, it would have led to
a moratorium on the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries
and the distribution of medical marijuana at existing businesses in
Cathedral City. The moratorium would have expired May 23.

No rush

Both Pettis and Councilman Paul Marchand, who voted against the
urgency ordinance, said they saw no reason to be in a hurry.

"We've been discussing this for so long, there's been ample time to
get this done," said Marchand. He said he has no problem coming up
with regulations on marijuana.

However, Marchand, who also voted for Pettis' motion, worried that
putting a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries would prolong
the issue too long because council members could extend the
moratorium if staff did not come up with a resolution by the
moratorium's expiration date.

Mayor Pro Tem Charles "Bud" England said he wanted to give city staff
as much time as it needs to create an ordinance.

"To force staff to shoestring an ordinance is unacceptable," England said.

Unlike other valley cities, Cathedral City has no ordinance in the
law books to regulate medical marijuana.

Coachella and Desert Hot Springs have moratoriums, while Indian
Wells, Indio, La Quinta and Palm Desert passed dispensary bans,
according to previous Desert Sun reports. Riverside County also has a
ban in force for unincorporated areas.

In March, the Palm Springs City Council passed an ordinance which
allows for only two medicinal marijuana dispensaries to operate in
the city. Those dispensaries must be located in an industrial or
industrial-commercial zone. City concerned

According to a Cathedral City staff report, city officials are
concerned the heavy regulations adopted by neighboring cities in
regulating medical marijuana dispensaries would prompt some
dispensaries to relocate to Cathedral City. To give staff time to
study the issue and enact regulations, the staff wanted the City
Council to adopt an ordinance.