RED BLUFF COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER BANNING DISPENSARIES AND MEDICAL POT GARDENS

RED BLUFF - The City Council here will decide Tuesday night whether
to immediately ban medical marijuana dispensaries, collectives and
cooperatives within city limits.

As an urgency ordinance, the ban would go into effect immediately
after the council vote. The prohibition would then give city leaders
time to decide how best to regulate the growth and sale of medical
marijuana in town, said Forrest Flynn, a city councilman.

"If we don't do it now, I think it'll get away from us," Flynn said,
referring to the rapid growth of dispensaries across the north state.
"If it hasn't already."

In Shasta County, the Redding City Council will meet again Tuesday
night to work on crafting an ordinance regulating medical marijuana
collectives.

Earlier this month, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors voted down
a suggested moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries.

Last week, the Tehama County Board of Supervisors voted to add 10
months and 15 days to a 45-day prohibition on medical marijuana
dispensaries that expired Friday.

"It's a logistical issue," said Paul Nansito, Red Bluff police chief.
"It takes a lot of resources to enforce."

With the police force capable of handling just a finite number of
calls and complaints, the city needs specific regulations to keep the
growth of collectives manageable, Nansito said.

To minimize conflict and stay safely within the bounds of state law,
Flynn said the city will need to establish regulations so that both
the collectives and law enforcement "know what their rights and
obligations will be."

It's an issue of clarity, he said.

"I am just attempting to clarify what the law would be," he said.

The Red Bluff City Council will meet in regular session at 7 p.m.
Tuesday at City Hall, 555 Washington St.

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IF YOU'RE GOING

What: Red Bluff City Council.

Where: 555 Washington St.

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday.

On agenda: Council members will decide whether to ban medical
marijuana collectives and cultivation within city limits.

IN THE PAST

Tehama County Board of Supervisors have debated the issue of medical
marijuana growth and sales.

In July, the board failed to adopt an ordinance that would have
limited the size and location of medical marijuana plots.

Last week, the board added 10 months and 15 days to a 45-day
prohibition that expired Friday.

The board has set a Nov. 24 session to study its options for a
broader ordinance that would regulate how the contentious medical pot
issue is handled.