GRASS VALLEY COUNCIL'S MEDI-POT BAN EXPIRES SOON

With the clock ticking on Grass Valley's medical marijuana moratorium,
action is required quickly to decide the city's next steps in dealing
with the drug.

City staff must agendize an ordinance either allowing and regulating
medical marijuana sales or banning them totally for consideration at
December's Planning Commission meeting, according to the agenda for
Tuesday's City Council meeting. The city's medical marijuana ban ends
Feb. 23, 2011, meaning a new ordinance needs to follow a "very tight
time frame," following its initial appearance before the Planning
Commission in December, according to the council agenda.

"The first reading of an ordinance by the Council would need to be
heard on January 11 and adopted" by Jan. 25 to be effective on Feb.
24, allowing 30 days for publication, according to the agenda.

The council put off discussion on a medical marijuana ordinance this
year because of California's Proposition 19, which would have allowed
recreational marijuana use for everyone 21 and older. The proposition
failed on Nov. 2. Council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Grass Valley City
Hall on 125 E. Main St. in downtown.

To view a copy of the agenda, visit TheUnion.com and click on this
story.