California, Salinas

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Salinas Council Deadlocks On Medical Marijuana Ban

<span class=postbigbold>Priority is given to letters from Monterey County residents </span>

The Salinas Californian, 22 Aug 2007
by Brian Seals

An ordinance that would have permanently prohibited medical marijuana dispensaries in the city failed to pass at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

A vote that would have rejected the ban failed on a 3-3 tie vote. Councilman Steve Villegas was absent.

Councilmembers Jyl Lutes, Gloria De La Rosa and Sergio Sanchez favored rejecting the ban, saying sick people with a doctor's recommendation should be able to get their medicine here.

Those who favored the ban cited the city's image and a police department recommendation for the ban as reasons to prohibit the dispensaries. Councilmembers Janet Barnes and Tony Barrera favored the ban, as did Mayor Dennis Donohue.

The Council in March approved a temporary measure banning medical marijuana dispensaries on a 6-1 vote. That prohibition is in effect until next March, said City Attorney Vanessa Vallarta.

Vallerta said the matter would return to the Council, likely in September.

Under Proposition 215 passed in 1996, Californians with a doctor's recommendation may possess and use marijuana. The closest dispensary to Salinas is in Santa Cruz.

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Salinas leaders vote down medical marijuana

by Sunita Vijayan, Salinas Californian



After months of discussion, the Salinas City Council has banned medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits.

A 4-3 vote Tuesday decided in favor of an ordinace that will keep them out of Salinas.

“I’m sorry for the people who have cancer, who’ll die because they don’t have this to make it better,” Councilman Sergio Sanchez said. “We talk about being a city of peace … if we don’t respect their rights, we’ll be hypocritical.”

As in August’s tied decision, Sanchez and councilmembers Jyl Lutes and Gloria De La Rosa voted to reject the ban, while council members Janet Barnes and Tony Barrera and Mayor Dennis Donohue voted in its favor.

“This ordinance is the right thing to do at this time,” Donohue said.

Councilman Steven Villegas, absent during the August meeting, broke the tie in favor of the ban Tuesday night.

The federal government considers marijuana used to ease chronic or serious illness illegal, but California voters passed Proposition 215 in 1996 to allow its use.

About half a dozen people, including law enforcement officials and residents, spoke for and against the ordinance during the hour-and-a-half meeting.

“Do not put your police department in a situation where they’re at odds with the federal government,” cautioned Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo.

But Daniel Gutierrez of Salinas, who has Chrohn’s disease, urged the council to consider seriously ill community members who must travel at least an hour to reach a dispensary.

“You shouldn’t punish law-abiding citizens,” Gutierrez said. “Between gas prices and traffic, it’s a lot easier to survive (if dispensaries are) local.”

Read more in tomorrow's Salinas Californian.