After more than a year of discussion about medical marijuana, the city of El Centro may hold off on giving dispensary permits in light of recent actions by the courts and federal government.
The City Council is set to take up the issue of whether to proceed with allowing dispensaries within the city limits or repeal its ordinance passed earlier this year.
Within the last month a court of appeals ruled that another city’s ordinance can’t allow the city to issue permits because it would violate federal law, according to a report to the City Council. The federal government has also launched a crackdown on medical marijuana dispensaries, warning the dispensary owners to close down or face criminal charges.
Staff felt it would be prudent to not accept applications, which originally had a deadline of Oct. 17, according to the report. The City Council is set to give direction as to whether to allow the business permits to be issued, amend the ordinance, extend the application deadline or prohibit dispensaries.
The issue was originally brought before the City Council in April 2010, and the council decided last December to come up with an ordinance to allow for a limited number of dispensaries in parts of the city.
Other cities in the Valley — Brawley, Holtville and Imperial — have banned dispensaries within city limits.
The city may end up having to put the medical marijuana permitting process on hold because of the new developments, said Mayor Efrain Silva. Staff is just looking to “follow the right steps to make sure we comply with the laws.”
While groups had come out to the meeting throughout the last two years to hear about the dispensaries, Silva said he doesn’t expect a huge crowd at the chambers today.
Staff Writer Elizabeth Varin can be reached at evarin@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3441.
If you go
What El Centro City Council meeting
When 6 p.m. today
Where City Hall, 1275 Main Street
The City Council is set to take up the issue of whether to proceed with allowing dispensaries within the city limits or repeal its ordinance passed earlier this year.
Within the last month a court of appeals ruled that another city’s ordinance can’t allow the city to issue permits because it would violate federal law, according to a report to the City Council. The federal government has also launched a crackdown on medical marijuana dispensaries, warning the dispensary owners to close down or face criminal charges.
Staff felt it would be prudent to not accept applications, which originally had a deadline of Oct. 17, according to the report. The City Council is set to give direction as to whether to allow the business permits to be issued, amend the ordinance, extend the application deadline or prohibit dispensaries.
The issue was originally brought before the City Council in April 2010, and the council decided last December to come up with an ordinance to allow for a limited number of dispensaries in parts of the city.
Other cities in the Valley — Brawley, Holtville and Imperial — have banned dispensaries within city limits.
The city may end up having to put the medical marijuana permitting process on hold because of the new developments, said Mayor Efrain Silva. Staff is just looking to “follow the right steps to make sure we comply with the laws.”
While groups had come out to the meeting throughout the last two years to hear about the dispensaries, Silva said he doesn’t expect a huge crowd at the chambers today.
Staff Writer Elizabeth Varin can be reached at evarin@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3441.
If you go
What El Centro City Council meeting
When 6 p.m. today
Where City Hall, 1275 Main Street
