RICHMOND OKS 3 POT CLUBS, PUTS 5% TAX ON BALLOT

After several marathon meetings, much hand-wringing and numerous
flip-flops, the Richmond City Council voted early Wednesday to allow
three marijuana dispensaries in the city and place a 5 percent
marijuana tax on the November ballot.

The decision reversed last week's vote, which would have allowed an
unlimited number of dispensaries in commercial districts.

"Richmond's been flirting with this issue for a long time," said City
Councilman Tom Butt. "But my feeling is, if you're going to allow
these dispensaries, you might as well get all the money you can out of
it."

The marijuana ordinance is due for a second vote in September, after
the council returns from its summer recess, and would go into effect
30 days after that.

The new ordinance would allow three nonprofit dispensaries in the city
- - in commercial districts only, outfitted with surveillance cameras
and subject to oversight by the Police Department. The dispensaries
would not be allowed near schools, community centers, parks and other
places frequented by children.

"This will guarantee access for medical marijuana users and safety for
the surrounding neighborhoods," said Councilman Jim Rogers. "My main
concern is that these places do not become a magnet for criminal activity."

Richmond is already home to eight dispensaries, which are operating
illegally, said City Attorney Randy Riddle. His office is cracking
down on them through injunctions and other measures, he said.

"This will move us from having eight illegal dispensaries to three
legal ones," said Butt, who generally has been opposed to legalizing
medical marijuana sales in Richmond. "But if we decide we need more,
we can always add more."

Richmond becomes the fifth major city in the Bay Area to legalize
marijuana dispensaries, following San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and
Berkeley.

With its regulation of small-scale marijuana retailers, Richmond's
model is typical of those across California, said Allen St. Pierre,
executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws.

Elsewhere, the issue is in the realm of state legislatures, which
generally are enacting much more conservative, strict regulations, he
said.

Oakland's City Council recently passed some of the most ambitious
marijuana legislation in the country, regulating growers in addition
to dispensaries.

Money is the main reason so many cities, counties and states are
suddenly adopting cannabis regulations and taxes, he said.

"The debate used to be about providing marijuana to those who need it
for medical purposes," he said. "Now, in these crushing economic
times, the narrative has changed."

Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond and San Jose are placing marijuana taxes
on the November ballot.

"I've always thought we have enough problems with crime, and the
Police Department is busy enough," Butt said. "But maybe we can make
some money out of this. That's the motivation."