MORE CITIES PUSH TO NIX MEDICAL POT SHOPS

YUCAIPA - Another inland town moved closer to snuffing out medicinal
marijuana Monday when the City Council approved staffers' plans to
craft an ordinance prohibiting medical cannabis dispensaries.

Yucaipa's not the only East Valley city addressing the marijuana
issue this week. In Redlands on Tuesday the Planning Commission
voted unanimously to pass along a recommendation to the City Council
to put an anti-cannabis law on the books.

California cities face a contradiction between state and federal
laws governing marijuana. The state's voters cast ballots to allow
the use of medical cannabis when they passed Proposition 215 in
1996, but Uncle Sam has since maintained federal policy
that classifies marijuana as an illegal, controlled substance.

John McMains, Yucaipa's community development director, recommended
that Yucaipa adopt a policy that would require dispensaries to
comply with both federal and state laws regarding medicinal
marijuana, basically meaning that dispensaries could only be allowed
in the city if federal law changes.

A new law "would effectively eliminate the establishment of medical
marijuana facilities in the community," McMains told council members.

The council voted 4-0 to authorize staffers to craft a new law
containing McMains' proposal. Mayor Dick Riddell was not at the meeting.

Councilwoman Denise Hoyt suggested at Monday's meeting that if
federal medical marijuana law ever changes, cannabis would likely be
given to patients at pharmacies, thus eliminating any need for the
marijuana-specific dispensaries.

"That's where it belongs," she said.

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the federal government's power to
enforce its marijuana laws despite state laws such as those in
California. However, the court has never struck down Proposition 215.

Redlands Community Development Director Jeff Shaw said in a phone
message that federal prohibitions against medical marijuana are a
key reason officials in that city are also moving against dispensaries.

Medical cannabis advocates say the drug can be beneficial for
patients with cancer and other serious diseases. The Drug
Enforcement Administration argues that drug traffickers use
California's medical marijuana law as a shield for law-breaking.

San Bernardino County cities Ontario, Grand Terrace, Upland and
Montclair have banned marijuana dispensaries. Fontana planning
commissioners recommended a ban earlier this month.

Staff writer Colleen Mensching contributed to this report.
- ---