TEMPLE CITY ENACTS TEMPORARY BAN ON POT DISPENSARIES

TEMPLE CITY - Prompted by a recent application to open a medical
marijuana dispensary in city limits, city officials have adopted a
temporary moratorium on such businesses.

By a unanimous vote, the has council decided to impose a 45-day
moratorium on all pot clubs. The move follows similar moratoriums in
other San Gabriel Valley cities, including Arcadia, which adopted one
in September.

Officials say they need time to study the issue and consider their
longer-term options.

"There's never been a request of this type in the city before,"
Councilman Tom Chavez said. "We felt as a council that we needed some
more information regarding these types of businesses - how they're
run, any type of background information, the good and bad things
about having such a business in the city - in order to make an
intelligent decision."

Officials decided to look at the issue after being approached by
applicants hoping to open a dispensary, Mega Member Pharmacy, on
Rosemead Boulevard and Longden Avenue, according to community
development Director Joe Lambert.

The applicants are represented by Marina Drabkin of 420 Consulting, a
professional consultant who helps clients untangle the red tape
associated with setting up medical marijuana dispensaries.

"The cities that we've approached in terms of asking for permission -
unfortunately it results in these moratoriums," said Drabkin, who
declined to comment on the Temple City situation until officials make
a decision.

"All in all, it doesn't deter patients who have a right to use
medical marijuana, and at the same time in these dire times of
economic development they're not letting these tax-based entities
operate in their cities. Nobody wins," she said.

Officials said they would keep an open mind on the issue.

"At this present time, I'm not really for or against it, until I have
all the facts and research it a little bit," Councilman David Capra said.

Medical marijuana, under a doctor's recommendation, was legalized in
1996, when California voters passed Proposition 215, the
Compassionate Use Act. However, federal law prohibits any use of
marijuana as illegal.

In March, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the
federal government would effectively end the Bush administration's
frequent raids on dispensaries, saying that prosecution would be
limited to only the most egregious offenses.

On Thursday, the only marijuana dispensary in the San Gabriel Valley,
located in the unincorporated portion of Covina, was forced to close
its doors by court order.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge granted a temporary
restraining order against the business for failing to get the proper permits.