SANTA CRUZ APPROVES MEDICAL POT SHOP

SANTA CRUZ -- Seriously ill patients who need marijuana to ease their pain
should soon be able to buy the drug at a dispensary in the city.

Plans by Boulder Creek resident Lisa Molyneux to open a medical marijuana
dispensary on DuBois Street in the Harvey West Business Park were
unanimously approved by the City Council on Tuesday.

"There will always be something too complicated and too cumbersome to deal
with," Councilwoman Emily Reilly said. "We should move forward, stay
conscious and aware and responsive."

Police Chief Howard Skerry and Dannettee Shoemaker, director of the city
Parks and Recreation Department, expressed reservations about the pot
shop's proximity to Harvey West Park.

Both Skerry and Shoemaker recommended denial of Molyneux's application.

The Harvey West Area Association also wrote a letter opposing the
special-use permit for a medical marijuana dispensary in their neighborhood.

No one else from the public spoke against the dispensary.

Shoemaker pointed out several youth activities at the park -- soccer, swim
lessons, Little League and day camps -- that could be impacted by the
dispensary's business.

Skerry said police departments in other cities have experienced problems
with medical marijuana outlets located near parks.

Harvey West, he said, "continues to be the subject of numerous complaints
regarding drug dealing, drinking, illegal camping and garbage complaints."

Still, council members strongly favor a medical marijuana shop and were
criticized for not allowing such a business to open sooner.

Molyneux's shop will be limited to buying and selling the drug. Patients
will not be allowed to consume marijuana at the site, nor will plants be sold.

A security guard is required to be on site during business hours, which are
limited between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Other activities, including massage, education, support groups and
chiropractic care, would not be allowed until Molyneux proves she can
operate the dispensary with few problems.

A review by city officials will be done six months after opening.

The council also listened to public comment about the draft environmental
impact report for the city's integrated water management plan, which
includes a proposal for a seawater desalination plant during times of drought.

Few people spoke against the desal plant, though questions were raised
about its high cost, energy use and waste water discharged into the ocean.

Officials with the city Water Department said no environmental issues are
considered to be significant except for noise during the project's
construction.

Public comments on the draft environmental impact report are due to city
officials by Friday.