Question of the Week: Should medical marijuana facilities be allowed in town?

Following the news that the Fairfax Town Council is moving forward with an ordinance that would temporarily put a moratorium on any new medical marijuana facilities in town, my email inbox started overflowing with comments, concerns, and questions.

Some people didn't understand why the town council was considering the moratorium at all. Some people didn't want any medical marijuana facilities in town. Some people didn't know there already is one in Fairfax.

So, here's your chance: what do you think of medical marijuana facilities?

Despite its legal status in California, the federal government doesn't recognize medical marijuana as legal, creating a weird legal limbo in our state. Many towns have shied away from the issue by banning or attempting to ban any medical marijuana facilities in town. [This has a led to a number of unlicensed, unregulated facilities in Marin.] Fairfax, however, has traditionally been welcoming and is home to the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana -- the only fully licensed and permitted facility in Marin.

This November, California voters will vote on Proposition 19, which would make it legal for anyone over 21 to possess one ounce of marijuana and grow their own on small plots.

Because of marijuana's uncertain status, the Fairfax Town Council felt it needed to temporarily delay the approval of any new medical marijuana facilities until new regulations can be worked out. The council will reconsider the issue at its Oct. 6 meeting.

Should they pass the ordinance temporarily stopping any new facilities? Or should they rescind it? What regulations might the town consider on new medical marijuana facilities? What regulations might be necessary if recreational use of marijuana becomes legal in November? Do you plan to vote for Prop. 19?