POLICE CHIEF ASKS CITY COUNCIL TO PROHIBIT MARIJUANA DISTRIBUTION CENTERS

Police Chief Chris Gallagher told the City Council at its July 6
meeting, he does not want to stop people who have prescriptions for
medical marijuana from using the drug, but he wants to make sure no
distribution centers are set up in Susanville.

Gallagher told the council the intent of Proposition 215, which is
referred to as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, was to enable people
in need of marijuana for medical purposes to obtain and use marijuana
without fear of criminal prosecution.

Currently, Gallagher said there are about 62 patients in Lassen County
and Susanville who use prescribed marijuana.

After talking to other police chiefs in the state, Gallagher said he
wanted an ordinance in place to keep a criminal element from setting
up dispensaries in the city and endangering the health and safety of
residents.

"I am not trying to deter folks who can have marijuana for medicine
but I want to keep store front facilities from the city that could
attract a nuisance or criminal element," Gallagher said.

Councilmember Doug Sayers said we do not need dispensaries in the city
and it is the council's obligation to protect young people and children.

The council voted unanimously, with Mayor Pro Tem Rocky Joy absent, to
waive the first reading and introduce ordinance 05-0919.