Medical marijuana cooperatives now legal in Palm Springs
More progress being made in Palm Springs, California. Bravo.
Medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives will now be allowed in Palm Springs, following a vote Wednesday by City Council.
How many are allowed?
The approval means Palm Springs is the first city in Riverside County to allow these facilities.
The ordinance is expected to go into effect in 30 days following its second reading, officials said.
“This is an incredible first step,” Councilwoman Ginny Foat said.
The Palm Springs City Council voted 3-1, with Councilman Lee Weigel voting no and Mayor Pro Tem Chris Mills absent, in favor of the ordinance, which allows two collectives and/or cooperatives to operate within city limits.
However, seven already are in operation… why set the limit so low if there are already more existing medical marijuana cooperatives than would be allowed? The Mayor voted “absent” no doubt he is not a medical marijuana supporter, which is why he tries to portray the co-ops as illegal…
This means several of the estimated seven dispensaries now operating in the city Palm Springs illegally will have to close.
City Attorney Doug Holland said the city is close to filing lawsuits against two of the existing dispensaries and is still gathering evidence against five more.
“If they are illegal, they ought to be shut down as soon as possible,” Mayor Steve Pougnet said.
Patients need to be able to have safe access to their medication. Why are they trying to portray legal medical marijuana co-ops as “illegal?” Just because they changed the amount of allowed co-ops to two within city limits? That does not mean they are doing anything “illegal!”
Patients and medical marijuana advocates need to voice their support here.
State law allows medical marijuana its time for these city council members to stop trying to delay the process and portray legal medical marijuana co-ops as “illegal.”