BEAUMONT: BAN ON NONPROFIT POT SHOPS PROPOSED

Medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives will be prohibited in
Beaumont if a proposed ordinance is adopted by the City Council.

The ordinance, which is on the agenda for Tuesday's Beaumont City
Council meeting, also would allow the city to regulate the
establishment of collectives and cooperatives if the courts determine
it is unconstitutional to ban them.

A staff report states: "The Ordinance is, essentially, two parts: the
first part is a total ban on dispensaries and the second part is a
set of regulations that would automatically take effect if the ban is
struck down by a Court."

Medical marijuana dispensaries, typically for-profit operations,
already are prohibited in Beaumont; the City Council adopted a ban in
April 2009. The council subsequently enacted a temporary moratorium
on not-for-profit co-ops and cooperatives. The moratorium will expire
May 19, which is why the council is considering a permanent ban.

If the courts eventually decide cities cannot ban medical marijuana
establishments, the ordinance also outlines out how the city would
regulate them. No more than two would be allowed to operate at any time.

Two kinds of permits would be required. One would be a
conditional-use permit, which would limit where they could be located
and would allow for municipal supervision. The other would be an
operator's permit that would require the facilities to do such things
as test their marijuana for contaminants and provide the police chief
access to their records.

Nancy Gall was the one Beaumont councilmember to vote against the ban
on medical marijuana dispensaries when it came up for a vote. She
said at the time she had a problem banning something some Beaumont
residents needed.

She also voted against extending the moratorium on co-ops and
collectives, which the council did in July 2010. Staff members told
the council the one-year extension would give them time to research
the issue further and bring back options for the council's consideration.

Councilman Jeff Fox said at the time he wanted to know more about
medical marijuana.

"I'm not a doctor," he said at the meeting.

Reach Erin Waldner at 951-763-3473 or ewaldner@PE.com

IF YOU GO

The Beaumont City Council is set to address medical marijuana
collectives and cooperatives.

When: 6 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Beaumont Civic Center, 550 E. Sixth St.

Information: An agenda is posted at www.ci.beaumont.ca.us