By Shea Johnson
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Posted Jun. 21, 2015 at 11:33 AM
ADELANTO — After a short lull in talks, city officials are poised to again discuss the potential of bringing medical marijuana dispensaries and research facilities to the city.
The City Council is expected to provide city staff with direction Wednesday on two draft ordinances that had been the centerpiece of back-to-back, long-running meetings last month. One ordinance is specific to medical marijuana dispensaries, while the other focuses on cultivation and research.
If the latest updates to the drafts bode well with Councilmen, the ordinances could be sent to the city's Planning Commission for review. If the Commission approves the plans, they will return to the Council for final approval. There will be at least one public hearing.
Last month, a second round of talks bled into midnight, seeking to resolve key unanswered questions about proposed dispensaries and research facilities, including the maximum number allowable, locations, conditions of operations and hours.
Acknowledging the city was in "trouble," Councilman Charley Glasper said officials "have to try to find out every legal business way to get (the city) out of the rut it's in."
Among other Councilmen, the support is divided. For instance, Mayor Pro Tem Jermaine Wright has championed for cultivation and research, but been less fond of dispensaries. Councilman Ed Camargo didn't want talk of dispensaries to make it further than the meeting May 13.
Councilman John "Bug" Woodard has been insistent that the plans were akin to health issues and provided the city with an economic driver.
Of the detractors who spoke to the Council, residents wondered aloud if the city, which was the first municipality to pass anti-synthetic drug laws, would be moving backward despite narratives by others that painted Adelanto as a city on the forefront.
Officials have already said that 100 percent of proceeds from dispensaries and 25 percent from research and cultivation will be invested in parks and recreation.
According to a city staff report, the meeting Wednesday will address elements currently in the draft ordinances based on feedback last month.
The ordinance on dispensaries currently allows three at a time, operating between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the city's industrial park. The dispensaries must be 500 feet away from schools, parks or residences and 1,000 feet from other dispensaries. The ordinance also calls for a six-month test period.
Meanwhile, the ordinance on research and cultivation currently allows five facilities at a time, with no restriction on the operation hours, in the city's industrial park. The ordinance also calls for a six-month trial period.
For both dispensaries and research facilities, the ordinances require all signage to be benign in nature and for the businesses to fall under the watch of an oversight board, which will consist of two law enforcement representatives, a code enforcement official, a planning commissioner and an at-large selection.
Shea Johnson may be reached at 760-955-5368 or SJohnson@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DP_Shea.
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