PALM SPRINGS — While city leaders are still hesitant, Palm Springs is getting closer to having a fourth medical marijuana dispensary.
The Palm Springs City Council on Wednesday voted 3-1-1, with Councilman Chris Mills opposing and Councilman Rick Hutcheson abstaining, to amend the medical cannabis ordinance to allow a fourth dispensary.
Creating the fourth permit, however, may not be an easy feat as Mills and Hutcheson continue to oppose adding another collective in the city.
Palm Springs is the only city in the Coachella Valley to permit the sale of medical marijuana.
“To me, the question is: Does the city need a fourth location?” Hutcheson said.
“The numbers (of patients) I've seen being served so far suggest that three may provide adequate service. I just think we may need to know, do the folks who live in our city who need this medication, are they unable to be served by the three that we have and is a fourth needed?”
Hutcheson then suggested that the council look into applying a sales tax on medical marijuana.
Mills also mentioned concern about having a “concentrated area” of medical marijuana dispensaries.
Currently, dispensaries must be 1,000 feet from each other.
Visibly irritated by her colleague's comments, Mayor Pro Tem Ginny Foat said “the more we act like these facilities are some sort of terrible thing, the more they become a terrible thing.”
“I think the longer we are so uncomfortable and don't understand that these are places that are, in many cases, saving people's lives and we talk about them like they're like some sort of strip joint we perpetuate that myth within our community.”
Foat, a longtime advocate of medical marijuana, initiated the creation of a fourth permit in March when the the city's third permit was revoked from CannaHelp. That dispensary, owned by medical marijuana activist Stacy Hochanadel, had been inoperative for more than 90 days due to issues related to its lease.
The third permit has since been granted to C.A.P.S. Apothecary, despite opposition from Mills and Hutcheson.
C.A.P.S. had operated in Palm Springs for years without a permit and was in litigation with the city prior to receiving the permit last month.
There are at least six unlicensed pot dispensaries operating within Palm Springs, with many clustered in an industrial zone near Gene Autry Trail and Ramon Road known as “Little Amsterdam.”
“I don't think that anyone sitting up here is naïve. The reality is there are also some risky elements associated with these (collectives),” Hutcheson said.
“It's not to impugn the work that is being done to help patients, which is why I've supported the three in the past, but I think we need to go into this with eyes open and make sure we know what we're doing before we add additional facilities here.”
The Planning Commission is expected to review the amended ordinance in the coming weeks.
Mariecar Mendoza covers the city of Palm Springs for The Desert Sun. She can be reached at (760) 778-4669 or mariecar.mendoza@thedesertsun.com. Follow her on Twitter @TDSMarMendoza.
ProPur - BIG Stainless Steel Water Purification - Includes 2 ProBlack-D Domed Hi-Performance Filter Elements (NSF-42 certified)
From ProPur
Product Description
Now there is a choice! Yes, it is better! Our ProPurTM BIG stainless steel water purification system is our most popular size unit and is ideal for small size groups of 2-4 people, whether at home, office, vacation, camping or college dorms! The ProBlack-DTM water filter elements are manufactured to remove pathogenic bacteria and cysts. In addition they have exceptional chemical removal properties.The ProBlack-D Domed Hi-Performance water filter elements by ProPur are the result of years of research, design and development. They consist of a ceramic composite with a special mix of carbon to provide the most efficient filtration possible, silver impregnated to prevent bacteria growth and are self-sterlizing.
These filter elements are good up to 3,000 gallons each before replacement. Easy to clean, trouble FREE and require NO priming, the ProBlack-DTM water filter elements may be the best yet! The majority of pathogenic (disease causing) bacteria and cysts are larger than one micron.
The pore size of the ProBlack-D water filter elements is controlled so that it will remove all suspended matter larger than 0.3 microns. Pathogenic bacteria Cholera, Typhoid, Salmonella, Serratia, Fecal Coliform >99.99% E. coli - 100% Cysts Cryptosporidium Parvum, Giardia Lamblia - 100% removal Sediment Down to 0.8 micron - 100% 0.3 - 0.5 micron >99.99% Turbibity >99.7% Contaminants Chlorine, Chloramines, COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), Lead, Arsenic, Nitrite, Pesticides, Herbicides, VOC's, Iron, Aluminum, THM (Trihalomethanes), PAH (poly-aromatic hydrocarbons), and other heavy metals. Chlorine - 99% COD .75% Lead - 99% Arsenic - 90%
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #72030 in Musical Instruments
- Brand: ProPur
Features
- Ships directly from manufacturer. At times there can be 2 to 4 day delay before shipping. NO SHIPPING TO CALIFORNIA, IOWA, HAWAII, ALASKA, or PUERTO RICO.
- Included are 2 ProBlack-DTM Domed Hi-Performance Water Filter Elements (NSF-42 certified)
- Constructed of heavy duty brushed and polished stainless steel - All metal spigot (brass and zinc)
- Non-slip base pad included (replaces red ring on latest models) - Limited 2 Year Warranty - Diameter - 9.25" - Nested height for storage 12" - In use height 21.5" - Storage capacity 21 liters or 5.5 gallons
- Most popular size unit, ideal for small groups of 2-4 people, at home, office, vacation, camping, college dorms!
No comments:
Post a Comment