BAN PROPOSED ON POT DISPENSARIES

The Ukiah City Council this week introduced an ordinance that would
ban medical marijuana dispensaries in city limits.

The city has had a moratorium on dispensaries for about two
years.

In moving the proposed ban forward, council members cited the
unresolved conflict between federal and state drug laws. Under the
Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana is illegal while
California's Proposition 215, approved by voters in 1996, allows the
use of marijuana for medical reasons.

Since January 2006, at least 56 cities and six counties in California
have adopted moratoriums or interim ordinances prohibiting medical
marijuana dispensaries, according to Ukiah City Attorney Dave Rapport.

They include Rohnert Park, which adopted a ban on dispensaries in
February. Cloverdale is considering a ban and Windsor tentatively
approved a ban.

Santa Rosa and the county of Sonoma have adopted regulations
permitting dispensaries.

The Ukiah City Council will vote on the proposed ban at its next
meeting.