Pinole Council Approves Ban On Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

The Pinole City Council has said "no" to medical marijuana dispensaries.

The council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to approve a ban on the facilities within city limits.

City planners will now draft an ordinance prohibiting the dispensaries and bring it back to the council for a public hearing and final vote.

The council action came four months after the California Supreme Court ruled cities and counties have the right to ban medical marijuana dispensaries even if state or federal laws allow them.

In 2010, the council approved an ordinance that allowed the dispensaries as long as state and federal law permitted them. The ordinance was in effect a ban since federal law prohibits the marijuana facilities.

On Tuesday night, the council decided to make the ban more definitive.

They said they wanted to put the prohibition in place even though there is some medical evidence that marijuana can help ease pain and discomfort for some people with diseases and other ailments.

Councilman Roy Swearingen said he has known too many people who've suffered from marijuana use to allow such a dispensary.

"It would be hard for me to vote to distribute marijuana to anybody," he said.

Councilman Tim Banuelos said he worked near a "marijuana cafe" in the past and saw people taking advantage of the system.

"It's too easy to abuse and too easy to get," he said.

Councilman Pete Murray said a marijuana dispensary would bring problems from other areas into Pinole.

"I don't feel I want to subject the community to these outside elements," he said.

Mayor Debbie Long added the city doesn't have the resources to properly regulate these facilities.

Councilman Phil Green said he was "torn which way to go" on the issue because medical marijuana does help some people. In the end, he voted with other council members to institute the ban.