MANTECA SAYS NO -- FOR NOW

It could be illegal 45 days to open a medical marijuana dispensary in
Manteca for at least 45 days.

The City Council is considering the adoption Tuesday of an urgency interim
zoning ordinance outlawing operations that dispense medical marijuana in
Manteca.

If Manteca doesn't adopt the urgency measure during the 7 p.m. meeting at
the Civic Center, there would be nothing stopping anyone from opening a
medical marijuana operation next to a church, school or a park.

Police Chief Charlie Halford believes there is a serious risk to public
safety and health if the prohibition isn't adopted and implemented immediately.

Although there is no pending request for a business license to dispense
marijuana for certified medical use, Halford in a memo to the council noted
if the urgency measure isn't imposed immediately there would be nothing
stopping such a business from operating where it likes in Manteca.

The council will be asked whether they prefer regulating medical pot
dispensing through the zoning ordinance and conditional use permit process
or of if they want to prohibit them entirely.

The 45-day ban can be extended up to 10 months by the City Council if more
than 45 days are needed to draft an ordinance implementing council directives.