Categories: 2014 ElectionsCivic AffairsDrugsElectionsHealth and MedicalMarijuanaPlanningSanta Ana

Council to consider the marijuana dispensary measure, which is a hot mess

One of our readers asked me to have a look at the information that the Santa Ana City Council will be reviewing and voting upon at tomorrow night’s Council meeting, regarding the medical marijuana dispensary ballot initiative that may end up on the ballot in November, 2014.

You can read the info yourself by looking over the Council’s agenda, however note that the medical marijuana info is way back towards the end of the document.

The initiative specifies that the dispensaries will be allowed in the City’s commercial, industrial and professional office zones, but they cannot be closer than 600 feet from any public or private schools, grades K-12.

The initiative calls for a minimum of 22 authorized medical marijuana dispensaries and the City may add more if the population gets over 330,000, at a rate of one per 15,000 residents. That’s a lot of dispensaries!

The initiative is very flawed, as follows:

There is no prohibition on the consumption of marijuana within the dispensaries
There are no requirements for separate ventilation systems
Minors are allowed in the dispensaries if accompanied by a parent or guardian
There is no requirement for security guards
There is no limitation on hours of operation
No differentiation between dispensaries that grow pot and those that don’t
No limits on the number of patients
No requirements that the production of edible products laced with marijuana be regulated by the County Health Agency
No restrictions on special events and promotions
No restrictions on the sale of ancillary products

The Planning Agency’s report includes examples of the downside of marijuana dispensaries, including armed robberies, burglaries, trash, and of course constant pot stink.

The Council has several options that they will consider on Monday night, including:

Calling for an election and placing the measure on the Nov., 2014 ballot
Placing the measure on the ballot and seeking declaratory relief
Directing staff to place a competing measure on the ballot
And in the future they may take legal action based on another case, in Riverside

The only upside to this measure is that sales of medical marijuana will be taxed. The downside however, as outlined above, is considerable. I cannot recommend voting for this measure.

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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Art Pedroza

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View Comments

Toyama Karate-Do Academy says:

March 19, 2013 at 12:43 pm

This new mess is something that is bad for us. There is a dispensary above our studio which we think is bad for the kids. We are way closer than 600 feet. Why is it only schools are protected. Where can we voice our concern about youth centers and karate studios.

Please advice

Jerry Cazales

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Council to consider the marijuana dispensary measure, which is a hot mess

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