WHITTIER OKS MORATORIUM FOR NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

WHITTIER - The City Council on Tuesday night voted unanimously to
impose a 45-day moratorium on any new medical marijuana
dispensaries.

Mayor Bob Henderson said this temporary ban will give the city time
to amend its existing ordinance to ensure Whittier isn't flooded with
more of the businesses.

The council already has approved a permit for one such business,
Seventh and Hope, at 8116 Byron Road, Suite D. It hasn't opened yet.

"What I'm asking for is a criteria developed that would prevent the
over-concentration in a small area so there aren't too many in the
community," Henderson said.

"We don't want to see a shopping center of dispensaries," Henderson
said.

Henderson said he's concerned because the city has received a lot of
inquiries asking about opening another medical marijuana dispensary.

"There should be a reasonable number," he said. "It shouldn't become
a regional solution."

Henderson said two possible ways to control the issue would be to
establish a distance requirement between dispensaries or a place cap
on them.

The temporary ban will give the city planning staff time to devise
the necessary changes, said Jeff Collier, director of community
development.

The council most likely will be asked to extend the moratorium on
Jan. 12 for another 10 months and 15 days. A new ordinance is
expected to come back to the council by spring 2010, Collier said.

Collier confirmed the city has received a number of inquiries - maybe
as many as 50.

"I believe there is a lot of pressure to spot more facilities in that
small area," Collier said, referring to the industrial area south of
Washington Boulevard where the city now allows medical marijuana
dispensaries.

Jason Jamison, president of GM Properties that represents two of the
property owners on Byron Road, has said in the past that he's had
several inquiries about opening a medical marijuana dispensary.

However, there are only two buildings in the area small enough to
warrant a dispensary.

One of the owners, who is leasing property to Seventh and Hope, won't
rent to another dispensary, Jamison said.

The second owner, who could, is still skeptical about his liability,
Jamison said.

Whittier Councilman Joe Vinatieri, who with Councilwoman Cathy Warner
voted in the past against allowing any dispensaries in the city, said
earlier this week that his position is unchanged. He wasn't present
during the discussion because he became ill Tuesday.

"If the council wants to slap a moratorium, I'm in favor of that,"
Vinatieri said. "(Medical marijuana) is inconsistent with our
community's values."

A medical marijuana supporter said Whittier already is appreciated
for its ordinance and that distance requirements could be OK.

"We don't necessarily object to deconcentration provisions as long as
they don't produce such onerous requirements to prohibit their
location in the city," said Kris Hermes, spokesman for Americans for
Safe Access, a national group that supports medical marijuana.