WHITTIER COUNCILMAN CALLS UP FOR REVIEW PROPOSED MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

WHITTIER - Councilman Joe Vinatieri has called for the City Council
to review the Planning Commission's approval of a medical marijuana dispensary.

The dispensary would be run by a Pico Rivera-based nonprofit group
called Seventh and Hope at 8116 Byron Road, Suite D. The clinic's bid
for a business permit passed out of the Planning Commission last
month and now must go to the council for approval.

It would have been approved without a hearing if one had not been
requested by a council member.

It is scheduled to go before the City Council Oct. 10.

Vinatieri said he asked for a public hearing because he doesn't
believe marijuana use is legal.

"I do not believe they can be operated in Whittier under the terms of
their conditional use permit," he said.

One of the terms says they must follow all state and federal laws, he said.

And marijuana is illegal under federal law, he said.

Robert Ortiz, one of the founders of the group, said he's not
surprised by Vinatieri's decision.

"We think it's a good idea that they review us," Ortiz said.

"It will give us a chance to to explain the details and get
everything out in the open," he said. "It's a good chance for the
public to come and show support for us."

In California, voters in 1996 approved Proposition 215 allowing
marijuana to be used for medical purposes.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder earlier this year said the federal
government will no longer prosecute the dispensaries as long as they
follow state law.

In Whittier, the council by a 3-2 vote recently rejected an ordinance
that would have banned medical marijuana dispensaries.

Vinatieri was one of two votes in favor of the ban.

When the Planning Commission approved the dispensary, it imposed 40
conditions, including one limiting the amount of marijuana per
customer to 12 ounces per month.

The conditional use permit also limits time of operation, requires a
licensed uniformed security guard and the maintenances of a a video
surveillance system.

The permit also requires background checks for two full-time
managers, two full-time security guards, two part-time security
guards and others.