Irvine bans marijuana dispensaries, delivery and cultivation
Jan. 13, 2016 Updated 6:49 p.m.
By SARAH de CRESCENZO / STAFF WRITER
IRVINE ? The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to ban commercial uses of marijuana, including cultivation, delivery and the operation of dispensaries within city limits.
Such bans are popping up in the wake of the state?s Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, which will create a licensing program and rules for related businesses. Portions of that law kick in March 1.
Although the city?s code already forbids marijuana cultivation or dispensaries, Irvine ? like some other Orange County cities ? has decided to make the ban more explicit and specify that delivery is also not allowed. That?s to maintain local control over commercial marijuana uses as the state establishes the licensing system, officials have said.
With the ban, patients in Irvine whose doctors have prescribed marijuana will have to leave the city to get the medicine.
Mayor Pro Tem Lynn Schott said she believes the community would not want dispensaries or ?carte blanche? cultivation. However, she said she would prefer delivery to patients not be forbidden.
?If their doctor proscribes cannabis to them to relieve suffering ... how would that patient receive or be able to get ahold of the substance?? Schott said.
Councilwoman Christina Shea disagreed, saying that patients can go to another city or get someone else to pick up medicine for them.
Councilwoman Beth Krom said she hoped the discussion would prompt the community to ?engage around incredibly uncomfortable issues? including drug and alcohol abuse.
Contact the writer: sdecrescenzo@ocregister.com
Jan. 13, 2016 Updated 6:49 p.m.
By SARAH de CRESCENZO / STAFF WRITER
IRVINE ? The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to ban commercial uses of marijuana, including cultivation, delivery and the operation of dispensaries within city limits.
Such bans are popping up in the wake of the state?s Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, which will create a licensing program and rules for related businesses. Portions of that law kick in March 1.
Although the city?s code already forbids marijuana cultivation or dispensaries, Irvine ? like some other Orange County cities ? has decided to make the ban more explicit and specify that delivery is also not allowed. That?s to maintain local control over commercial marijuana uses as the state establishes the licensing system, officials have said.
With the ban, patients in Irvine whose doctors have prescribed marijuana will have to leave the city to get the medicine.
Mayor Pro Tem Lynn Schott said she believes the community would not want dispensaries or ?carte blanche? cultivation. However, she said she would prefer delivery to patients not be forbidden.
?If their doctor proscribes cannabis to them to relieve suffering ... how would that patient receive or be able to get ahold of the substance?? Schott said.
Councilwoman Christina Shea disagreed, saying that patients can go to another city or get someone else to pick up medicine for them.
Councilwoman Beth Krom said she hoped the discussion would prompt the community to ?engage around incredibly uncomfortable issues? including drug and alcohol abuse.
Contact the writer: sdecrescenzo@ocregister.com