By Steve Elliott
Hemp News
The San Diego City Council is set to hear Mayor Bob Filner's proposal for medical marijuana dispensary zoning regulations on Monday, April 22 at 2 p.m.
The mayor's proposal is based on the recommendations of the medical marijuana task force organized by City Council President Todd Gloria in 2010. It allows medicinal cannabis dispensaries to exist to designated commercial and industrial areas of the city with large buffers from "sensitive" areas including a 600-foot buffer from schools and parks, as well as between dispensaries.
The proposal also contains strict operating requirements including security systems, and restrictions on hours of operation and signage.
"We want there to be access in San Diego City," said Ken Cole, president of the United Patients' Alliance, a trade association of medical marijuana distributors. "However, we also want operators to behave in a responsible manner, where the patients and public can feel safe and respected.
"Mayor Filner's proposal provides both access to patients and enhanced safety to the community," Cole said.
"What the county enacted was a good start, but while it succeeded in creating oversight, it failed at the ultimate goal of giving patient access," said Bob Riedel, president of the United Patients' Alliance. "Mayor Filner's proposal achieves both -- patient access and public oversight."