The Compassionate Coalition

MEDICAL POT STORES

Manteca says no -- for now

It could be illegal 45 days to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Manteca for at least 45 days.

The City Council is considering the adoption Tuesday of an urgency interim zoning ordinance outlawing operations that dispense medical marijuana in Manteca.

If Manteca doesn't adopt the urgency measure during the 7 p.m. meeting at the Civic Center, there would be nothing stopping anyone from opening a medical marijuana operation next to a church, school or a park.

Police Chief Charlie Halford believes there is a serious risk to public safety and health if the prohibition isn't adopted and implemented immediately.

Although there is no pending request for a business license to dispense marijuana for certified medical use, Halford in a memo to the council noted if the urgency measure isn't imposed immediately there would be nothing stopping such a business from operating where it likes in Manteca.

The council will be asked whether they prefer regulating medical pot dispensing through the zoning ordinance and conditional use permit process or of if they want to prohibit them entirely.

The 45-day ban can be extended up to 10 months by the City Council if more than 45 days are needed to draft an ordinance implementing council directives.

By DENNIS WYATT

Managing editor of the

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin