Patients sway vote, saying nothing else offers relief

By GARTH STAPLEY

BEE STAFF WRITER

November 22, 2005

If Modesto City Council members are determined to ban medical marijuana sales Dec. 6, they'll have to do it without support from city planning commissioners.

Many passionate people in Monday's crowded audience swayed a majority of commissioners not to recommend that Modesto do away with a cannabis re-tailer on McHenry Avenue, or outlaw medical marijuana. Several said they get no relief from legally prescribed narcotics, and said they don't want to drive to the Bay Area to obtain the only thing that works