STOCKTON PANEL BACKS REVISED MEDICAL POT RULES

Council To Weigh In On Proposal Late Next Month

STOCKTON - A City Council committee Wednesday endorsed a revised set
of rules that would regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in the
city but relax some restrictions outlined in an earlier draft.

There was a round of applause from the medical pot advocates and
lawyers gathered when committee member and Councilwoman Susan Eggman
asked for acknowledgement of the city's efforts to tailor a fair compromise.

The full City Council is scheduled to weigh in on the proposed rules
late next month. It will be the second time.

Council members delayed action in June, instead sending it back to the
council subcommittee for further revisions.

The proposed regulations would still impose strict requirements on pot
collectives. That includes initially capping the number of
dispensaries at three - with a future limit of one per 100,000
residents as the city grows - and requiring them to obtain a $30,000
operator's permit in addition to other application fees.

Other provisions were tweaked.

Under the revised draft rules, dispensaries must locate at least 600
feet away from any other dispensary, school, park, library, child care
facility and community center. Previously, the separation requirement
was 1,000 feet.

Among other proposed changes:

- - A previous requirement that dispensary employees have to wait 60
days for background checks before they begin working would be
eliminated. They still must undergo background checks but would be
able to work on a temporary basis pending their results under the
proposed regulations.

- - As many as two dispensaries could be allowed within a single City
Council district, instead of just one.

- - Under draft language, the Police Department will have discretion
over whether to deny a dispensary permit if the applicant has a past
drug conviction or has operated an unpermitted dispensary.

- - A council-appointed community panel could be established to review
applicants.

In the meantime, city leaders Tuesday voted to place a measure on the
November ballot that would levy a 2.5 percent tax on sales at medical
marijuana dispensaries.

The measure also would levy a 10 percent tax for all other marijuana
businesses should California voters in November legalize pot for
recreational use.

Stockton was forced to revisit the medical marijuana issue last fall
when a central Stockton medical marijuana dispensary opened on East
Acacia Street. A judge has since ordered it to suspend operations.

City leaders last considered - and dropped - the subject of medical
pot dispensaries in 2005.