Fountain Valley Council to Discuss Medical Marijuana

The Fountain Valley City Council will hold a public study session Tuesday before its regular meeting to discuss how the city should deal with the issue of medical marijuana.

The city enacted an interim study moratorium in 2010 to gather more information on the issue, and has since extended that moratorium twice. It will expire in February of next year.

According to a report by City Attorney Alan Burns, the city has three options: attempt to regulate dispensaries through zoning, effectively band dispensaries by not listing them as permitted uses for zoning purposes, or make no attempt to regulate.

Burns's report cites City of Riverside v. Inland Empire, a 2011 court case establishing a city's right to prohibit marijuana dispensaries through usage zoning regulations.

The study session will begin at 5 p.m., with the council's regular meeting immediately following.