DIXON NOW AGAINST POT SHOPS

Reversing a 5-year-old ordinance, Dixon is now banning medical
marijuana dispensaries in the city.

After an almost four-hour discussion and public hearing, and after
some hesitation, council members voted 3-2 in favor of a putting a
halt to dispensaries setting up shop in the city.

During a future meeting, the council will give final approval to an
ordinance specifying that Dixon will not approve business licenses or
land uses for enterprises or purposes that are contrary to federal,
state or local level.

Since medical marijuana is not legal at a federal level, that
ordinance would result in the repeal of the current ordinance,
approved in 2004, that allows dispensaries in the city.

Councilmen Michael Ceremello and Dane Besneatte dissented.

"We pay for the sins of our forefathers," said Mayor Jack Batchelor.
"I disagreed with the passing of the ordinance then and I disagree
with it now."

Waiting until the last minute to make up his mind, Vice Mayor Rick
Fuller tried to weigh the options.

"I'm concerned there isn't enough regulation," he said. "I'm not sure
this is in the best interest of the community as a whole. ... For me,
this doesn't pass the 'smell test.'"

Prior to their decision, audience members on both sides of the issue
explained their position to the council.

Caleb Counts from Sacramento operates Fruitridge Health and Wellness,
a collective dispensary in Sacramento.

He explained that of the thousands of patients that patron his
dispensary, 176 are from Solano County, 47 of which are from Dixon.

"We want to follow the rules, we want to be regulated and be accepted
as a viable operation," he said.

If a dispensary were to locate in Dixon it would have to be in a
building zoned for professional/administrative.

Community Development Director David Dowswell said that there is one
vacancy meeting those requirements in the area of Market Street and
Ary Lane.

Dowswell also pointed out that an application for a dispensary would
need the signature of the property owner and would still have to go
through the use permit process.

It was noted during the meeting that the owner of the vacant space
would not agree to having a dispensary occupy the space.

Meanwhile, Vacaville resident John Arabia and Dixon resident Don
Hendershot, who both work in law enforcement, said the problem wasn't
with medical marijuana, but that dispensaries aren't regulated and
attract crime.

"Unfortunately, it attracts unsavory characters," Arabia said. "Not
just the ones that have a need."