Lafayette adopted an ordinance extending the temporary moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries (MMD) for an additional ten months and fifteen days.
The Moratorium established in late July of this year was set to expire on September 10, 2009; since the next Council meeting is slated for September 14, the brief gap was covered.
Because this type of business would be the first of its kind, the City of Lafayette directed staff to study medical marijuana dispensaries. Although, "at this point we don't have any medical marijuana dispensary applications," said Assistant Planner Michael Cass.
The planning services division will be looking at land use classification regulations. Police and the city attorney's office will continue to conduct research on possible negative impacts. Currently the "general retail sales activity" that could potentially cover a MMD classification covers a broad range of businesses. Obviously a MMD dispensary is not the same as a Yogurt Shack.
In Contra Costa County only Martinez and Pinole have MMDs. Currently Oakland has four dispensaries.
It's a brave new world since Proposition 215 passed in 1996 allowing a legal defense against marijuana charges for seriously ill patients smoking pot. Hearings for the landmark legislation legalizing the sale and use of marijuana in California, Assembly Bill 390, The Marijuana Control, Regulation and Education Act are tentatively scheduled for early next year.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA