Medical Marijuana Meeting Tomorrow, We Think...

MARY JANE TAKES CENTER STAGE AT 2:00 P.M. TOMORROW
The strangely-scheduled Costa Mesa City Council meeting called to address the Medical Marijuana issue is, as far as we know now, still scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers at City Hall. 

BRING YOUR READING GLASSES
The agenda for this meeting can be found HERE.  Once at that site be sure to click on the actual agenda item listed as New Business #1. Funny, I thought it might have been listed as an Old Business item since the council has already addressed this once before recently.  Oh, well.  Anyhow, when you click on the link for the only item on the agenda (or just click HERE) you will be taken to the discussion of the issue PLUS you will find links to thirty-three (33) attachments!  I suspect this staff report will have killed a small forest somewhere in Oregon.

ODD TIME FOR A MEETING
There has been no information given about the strange, middle-of-the-day timing of this meeting.  It certainly does seem odd, since we're in the midst of the holiday run-up.  Regardless, the council MUST make a decision based on the prodigious staff report very soon... certainly before Christmas.

TIMING, CONFLICTING LAWS
Contemplating this issue more than a little for the past few months - ever since the two competing initiatives qualified to be placed on a ballot for the voters to decide the question - it appears to me that this council has very few good choices - particularly since there are conflicting laws in play.  What will likely happen is that they will decide to place the two initiatives on the November, 2016 General Election ballot since they both have taxation elements included.

RESURRECTION (APPROPRIATE, CONSIDERING THE SEASON)
And, I won't be surprised if the carcass of Gary Monahan's stealth ordinance that he and City Attorney Tom Duarte cobbled together earlier this year, but that was rejected by the council, is resurrected, given a heart transplant and massaged thoroughly by the staff to create a document that may become city law BEFORE the two initiatives go before the voters in two years.  Or, they might decide to place it, or a much better version of it, on the ballot with them.  Or, they might decide to create another committee to craft a document.  Whichever way it goes, it seems better for our elected officials to take the time to create a proper ordinance that places the welfare of the city and its residents ahead of the profits of drug dispensers.  Then, again, I shudder as I type that knowing how well that worked out with the last two Charter schemes and considering that Monahan is already in the impairment business.

ROOKIE TAKES THE THRONE
So, join me at City Hall tomorrow for an unusual matinee performance - Rookie Mayor Steve Mensinger's first big show without training wheels.  It should be VERY interesting.  It will be up to us all to pay attention to this issue.  It's very likely that this Medical Marijuana issue will be THE BIGGEST issue this council will address during the next two years.  The council will change in 2016 - Monahan's out for sure, and the Rookie and Sandra Genis are up for re-election.  See you tomorrow.