EL CERRITO TO CONSIDER BANNING CANNABIS CLUBS

Later this month, the El Cerrito City Council will consider banning
medical marijuana dispensaries after failing to approve Monday night
an ordinance that would have allowed the facilities within a
three-block radius on San Pablo Avenue.

The city attorney had recommended that the council approve an
ordinance allowing a cannabis club to operate between the Honda of El
Cerrito dealership and Starbucks on San Pablo Avenue on the north
side of town. Last month, the council gave the first of two approvals
necessary for the city to adopt the ordinance.

On Monday night, the ordinance failed to receive a second approval.
Two council members voted for it and two against. Councilwoman
Letitia Moore was absent.

The council then voted 3-1 for city staff to come back June 19 with
an ordinance that would prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries in El
Cerrito, City Attorney Janet Coleson said.

The council's action also means that the city Planning Commission
will not consider zoning changes that would have allowed the
facilities, Coleson said. The planning commission had been scheduled
to take up the matter in June.