MARIJUANA CLINICS NOT OK -- FOR NOW -- IN NAPA

The Napa City Council reaffirmed its intent Tuesday night to proceed
cautiously in drafting an ordinance that would allow medical
marijuana clinics. Despite public pleas to proceed quickly, council
members said they would not be rushed to craft regulations in less
than the nine months required by staff.

The council unanimously approved an ordinance that prohibits cannabis
clinics until a tight set of rules are in place. Only then would the
city process applications. "Before I stick my head in the mouth of the
lion, I just want to make sure we've got it right," Councilman Jim
Krider said. "Nine months to get it right is to me worth it,"
Councilman Mark van Gorder said.

Police Chief Rich Melton reported two weeks ago that pot clinics can
be crime magnets. Napa intends to write an ordinance that borrows
rules from other cities where medical marijuana is well managed. Gemy
D'Adamo and Lowell Lewis, founders of the Napa County Cannabis Co-Op,
said they hoped to be licensed by the city. In the meantime, Napa
should allow out-of-county deliveries to people who are sick at home,
they said.

It could take until next summer before an ordinance takes effect that
meets community concerns, City Manager Mike Parness said. A medical
marijuana clinic, Going Green, is already operating in the 600 block
of Soscol Avenue, but without a city business license and without
proper zoning, city officials said.

On Friday, the city sent a letter to Kimberly Pelham, Going Green's
operator, saying that she was operating illegally.

Going Green could be subject to code enforcement or legal action if it
does not close, Tambri Heyden, the city's community development
director, said.

Pelham did not return Register calls seeking comment.