SEBASTOPOL COUNCIL TO REVIEW POT DISPENSARY PROPOSAL

A proposal to put a medical marijuana dispensary just outside
Sebastopol's southern edge will be discussed Tuesday night by the City
Council, which just six months ago adopted a pot ordinance that is
among the most liberal in Sonoma County.

The dispensary, to be called Suite 215, is being proposed by Victoria
Stokes of Sebastopol for a former floor-covering store at 1225
Gravenstein Highway just outside Sebastopol's city limits.

The site is within the city's urban growth boundary, but because it is
outside city limits the council has only an advisory role.

Sonoma County planner Karin Theriault said the zoning needs to be
changed and a use permit granted before a dispensary could go in.

Concerns about potential crime and the impact on neighbors, which
include a real estate office, fence company and Buddhist Temple, are
being raised, Theriault said.

Sebastopol's ordinance regulating medical marijuana allows fortwo
dispensaries within the city limits and for home and collective gardens.

There is one dispensary within the city, Peace in Medicine Healing
Center, which at one time had proposed opening a second site. Police
Chief Jeffrey Weaver said there have not been problems associated with
the dispensary.

At the request of Councilwoman Kathleen Shaffer, the council also will
discuss whether to amend its newly-adopted ordinance to allow just one
dispensary within the city.

Shaffer said her request was not prompted by the new proposal, but
rather whether two dispensaries are necessary in a city with 7,300
residents.

The meeting is at 6 p.m. at the city Youth Annex.

The applicant has been asked to provide additional information on such
issues as septic systems before a public hearing is scheduled.