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The San Ramon Policy Committee is set to debate Tuesday whether the city should move forward with drafting a proposed ordinance on medical marijuana dispensaries.
San Ramon is one of three Contra Costa County cities that does not have laws on the books expressly pertaining to marijuana dispensaries, deputy city attorney Alicia Poon wrote in her report to the committee.
Fourteen Contra Costa cities, as well as the county government, prohibit dispensaries in their jurisdictions whereas Martinez and Richmond allow the pot shops with specific regulations, Poon said. Walnut Creek and Hercules are the other cities without express dispensary rules, she added.
San Ramon instituted a temporary moratorium on dispensaries in 2010, but the moratorium lapsed without any permanent prohibition or regulations going forward, Poon said.
City planning officials receive a few inquires per year about opening a medical marijuana dispensary, with the general response from staff being that prospective proprietors would need to apply for a zoning ordinance amendment, according to Poon. As it stands, someone could open a dispensary with approval from the Planning Commission and City Council.
San Ramon officials are now looking to the Policy Committee for guidance. The group is a subcommittee of the City Council, comprised of council members Dave Hudson and Harry Sachs along with City Manager Greg Rogers.
Staff seeks direction from the committee whether to draft an ordinance for council consideration, either to prohibit or regulate medical marijuana dispensaries, or to maintain the status quo.
Police chief Joe Gorton recommends an ordinance prohibiting the pot shops in San Ramon, according to Poon.
The Policy Committee is scheduled to debate the issue at its meeting Tuesday afternoon, beginning at 4 p.m. in the city council conference room at 2226 Camino Ramon.
I recommend an ordinance prohibiting pot shops in San Ramon. We need clear thinking people, not with minds altered.
I agree with the recommendation of prohibiting pot shops in San Ramon or any areas nearby. Surely it will be the beginning of a downward trend to our neighborhoods.
I am in favor of establishing an ordinance prohibiting pot shops in San Ramon. We need to really take a close look at how ordinances that permit it in other municipalities are affecting drugged driving, underage usage, illegal diversion and escalation to serious substance abuse before ever considering these shops, from my view.
The policy committee voted to have city staff draft an ordinance prohibiting the creation of marijuana dispensaries in San Ramon. The ordinance will come before the city council in the near future.