CITIES FACE UNCERTAINTY IF MARIJUANA IS LEGALIZED

Current Medical Pot Laws Likely Need Revision

Polls show there's a strong chance voters next month might pass
Proposition 19, which would legalize marijuana for recreational use
in California.

If that happens, Coachella Valley cities -- which already have spent
more than four years grappling with what to do about medical pot
dispensaries -- may have to revisit their laws on marijuana all over
again, officials say.

It's not yet clear what effects the measure would have on the valley.
If passed on Nov. 2, Proposition 19 would make California the first
in the U.S. to legalize pot beyond medical use, and its potential
benefits and pitfalls have been debated for months across the nation.

Palm Springs -- the only valley city so far to license the medical
marijuana dispensaries already allowed under state law -- could offer
a glimpse of what to expect.

The west valley city allows three dispensaries to operate under a
2009 ordinance, but as many as seven have opened there illegally in
recent years. That includes two downtown dispensaries that the city
compelled to close.

Joy Meredith, president of the Main Street Palm Springs downtown
merchant association, said she's never heard of businesses or
customers complaining about the dispensaries, whether they're
licensed by the city or not.

There hasn't been any negative impact at all," she said, except for
"political jabs" criticizing the dispensaries in campaign commercials
for Rep. Mary Bono Mack against her opponent, Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet.

However, Proposition 19, according to an official state voter guide,
would go far beyond what's offered via the medical dispensaries in
Palm Springs.

The ballot measure would allow adults over 21 to use and grow limited
amounts of pot for recreational use at home and other "non-public" areas.

It further would allow cities to tax and regulate commercial sales of
pot within their borders.

It's such uncharted territory," Meredith said. "There's so much to it."

Seven valley cities have banned medical pot dispensaries outright
since 2007. Rancho Mirage is considering an ordinance that would
allow one dispensary within city limits.

City officials agreed they would have to revisit existing city laws
should Proposition 19 pass and decide what, if any, changes should be
made to regulate pot sales.

No question, we have to take a fresh look if that passes," said David
Erwin, city attorney for Palm Desert, which in 2007 became the first
valley city to ban dispensaries.

Proposition 19 authorizes cities to regulate marijuana sales but
doesn't force them to do so, La Quinta City Attorney Kathy Jenson added.

Ultimately the valley's city councils would decide what changes, if
any, to make to local laws, Erwin said.

Much of the debate over the ballot measure's effects thus far has
boiled down to a battle of studies that support each side.

Covina Police Chief Kim Raney, a member of the California Police
Chiefs Association executive board, which opposes 19, called it "a
recipe for disaster" that would lead to more people driving under the
influence, in an April interview with The Desert Sun.

Lanny Swerdlow, president of Palm Springs-based pro-legalization
Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project, said the measure would lead to a
drop in alcohol consumption and prescription drug abuse.

Riverside County Sheriff Stan Sniff and Palm Springs Police Chief
David Dominguez did not respond to requests for comment on potential
law enforcement impacts if the measure passes.

Proponents of the measure also stress the opportunity for
cash-strapped cities to tap new sources of tax revenue as they work
to recover from recession. All of the valley's cities have been
affected by budget woes in recent years.

How much new tax revenue is collected from commercial pot sales
depends on how many cities opt to allow them, and how they license
the sales, according to a state legislative analyst report.

Proposition 19 opponents say they're concerned the measure would give
minors better access to marijuana, and cite studies that show greater
potential for long-term mental health problems in teenagers who smoke pot.

Advocates counter with studies in which teens say it's already easier
for them to buy marijuana and cigarettes than it is to buy beer.

The ballot measure would allow cities to prevent marijuana sales,
too, said Kris Hermes, spokesman for Oakland-based Americans for Safe
Access, a medical marijuana advocacy group.

It's not clear how many cities would ban pot sales, but the prospect
has some medical marijuana advocates concerned that Proposition 19
ultimately could make it harder for patients to access pot, Hermes said.

The measure could also drive down prices for the drug, he added.

Stacy Hochanadel, owner of Cannahelp in Palm Springs, said he wasn't
worried about potential negative impacts on his dispensary.

Instead, Hochanadel said he sees possibilities to expand.

The Coachella Valley is a major source for growing fruit and
vegetables for the United States. Why wouldn't they use it for
growing cannabis?" he said.

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PROPOSITION 19

Key Supporters

National Black Police Association

Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders, MD (Ret.)

California Libertarian Party

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) of California

California NAACP

Palm Springs Unified School District Board Member Justin Blake

Source Yes on Prop. 19

Key opponents

California Police Chiefs Association

U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer

State Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown

Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley

Source: No on Prop. 19

Proponents say the measure:

would reduce drug cartel violence, free law enforcement to pursue
more violent criminals, and save millions of dollars in
marijuana-related incarcerations

would give local and state governments the chance to tap new tax
revenues and help balance their budgets

would reduce alcohol and prescription-drug abuse

Opponents say the measure:

would increase incidents of driving under the influence and would
prevent companies from taking action against "stoned" drivers until
after they get in an accident

give minors better access to marijuana, putting them at greater risk
of long-term health problems

lead to more addiction and mental health problems

A study released this week by the nonprofit RAND Corp. found
legalizing marijuana in California would not dramatically reduce
Mexican drug cartel revenues, and estimated pot smuggled into the
state represented about 2 percent to 4 percent of total drug export
revenues. However, the study also found the drug cartels' revenues
could be more deeply affected if marijuana grown in California is
smuggled into the rest of the United States.