SANTEE JUST SAYS NO TO POT SHOPS

SANTEE -- A two-year moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries in
Santee ends June 23, but city zoning regulations will preclude any pot
shops from opening anytime soon.

The issue came before the Santee City Council Wednesday night, which
directed its staff to keep tabs on any court decisions or changes in
the law that could affect the local situation.

Santee City Attorney Shawn Hagerty and City Manager Keith Till noted
that two California Court of Appeal decisions have held that there is
no legal requirement to make dispensaries a permitted land use.

Several Santee residents spoke in favor medical marijuana
dispensaries, including Rudy Reyes, a 2003 Cedar fire victim who uses
marijuana to ease his pain.

Others, including Will Cheesman, coordinator of the anti-drug Santee
Solutions Coalition, supported the city and said his group "advocates
a ban if the city chose to do so."

Mayor Randy Voepel has been adamant against not only the legalization
of marijuana but also in not supporting any type of marijuana
production or sales in Santee. He does not support medical marijuana
and says that as long as he is mayor, he will always vote to ban "evil
marijuana shops."