LODI, OTHER CITIES HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO ALLOW POT SHOPS EVENTUALLY

The Lodi City Council last week, as might be expected, put off
action on allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.
Slowing things down was wise.

This a highly controversial, highly emotional issue. It needs to be
thought out carefully.

California is one of 13 states that have legalized the medical use
of pot, federal prohibitions notwithstanding. But the recent
announcement by Attorney General Eric Holder that the Justice
Department would no longer seek to shut down - or, presumably, raid
- - such dispensaries has added a new urgency for cities to figure out
what to do.

There are perfectly good reasons to allow medical marijuana stores,
not the least of which is that California law allows them. In 1996,
56 percent of the state's voters approved Proposition 215, which
changed the California pot law. Beyond that, people with ailments
ranging from cancer to chronic pain and from migraine headaches to
menstrual cramps claim relief from marijuana when nothing else works.

There also are perfectly good reasons not to allow medical marijuana
stores. They can become targets for crime. They can dispense
illegally. They can increase illegal drug transactions. Those
concerns and others were presented to the council by police Chief David Main.

Of course, those same arguments could be made about any pharmacy.
Behind every pharmacy counter can be found highly potent drugs that
have great street value. No one would think of closing down a
pharmacy because of that.

Perhaps the solution is to have medical marijuana dispensed by a
licensed pharmacist from a pharmacy. It's hard to imagine many
chain-store pharmacies would be interested in having their name
associated with marijuana, at least not yet. But it would solve at
least some of the issues.

Lodi, a conservative Valley town, must wrestle with this just as
cities have had to wrestle with other businesses many find
offensive, such as those featuring nude dancers or selling pornography.

That we can deal with such businesses indicates we also can find a
place for pot shops. It won't be easy. It won't be fast. But it can be done.