LAKE ELSINORE COULD BAN MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

LAKE ELSINORE ---- Lake Elsinore could soon join a growing list of
California cities banning places that dispense medical marijuana ----
even though it doesn't yet have any operating within its borders.

Citing a host of public safety concerns, Lake Elsinore police Chief
Louis Fetherolf is recommending that the City Council adopt an
ordinance prohibiting any dispensaries from opening in the city.

The council is expected to look at a potential ordinance at its 7
p.m. meeting Tuesday at the Cultural Center, 183 N. Main St.

The proposed ordinance states that its intent is "to promote the
health, safety, morals and general welfare of the residents and
businesses within the city" and makes illegal all marijuana
dispensaries, which it defines as any facility or location where
marijuana is made available or distributed.

Fetherolf said other cities have reported that there are a bevy of
public safety hazards posed by the dispensaries.

Some the examples he cited included increased loitering around the
dispensaries, as well as marijuana being smoked around them.
Robberies and burglaries are taking place, he said, and, in some
cases, the drug is being sold illegally within them to people who
don't have prescriptions for medicinal marijuana.

"Some communities have had more problems than I think they want to
deal with," Fetherolf said.

And because there is a contradiction between the state and federal
laws when it comes to medical marijuana, Fetherolf said, the city
should wait until the discrepancies are resolved.

The state's 9-year-old Compassionate Use Act, which was approved by
voters, allows medicinal marijuana, while federal laws say all
marijuana is illegal and it has no medicinal value.

Councilman Bob Schiffner agreed Friday with Fetherolf. He said that
though he is not inclined to lean either way on the medicinal
marijuana issue, he does think it's probably best to hold off on
allowing the dispensaries.

"I do think we need to get our laws together," he said.

If it adopts the ordinance, Lake Elsinore would join several
California cities in banning marijuana dispensaries. Earlier this
month, San Marcos became the first city in San Diego County to do so.

Last February, Murrieta adopted its own ordinance, while Temecula set
a moratorium several months before on dispensaries while it studies the issue.

Hilary McQuie, a spokeswoman for the medicinal marijuana group
Americans for Safe Access, said that if Lake Elsinore joined those
cities in prohibiting dispensaries, it would be going against the
will of state voters who overwhelmingly approved medicinal marijuana.

She also said the ordinance would force people who are prescribed the
drug to turn to the black market to get it.

"Would they prefer all those patients get their medicine through the
illegal market or would they prefer they get it through a safe, legal
and known way?" she asked.