California, La Mirada

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City extends ban on pot dispensaries

Whittier Daily News
May 25, 2006

LA MIRADA - The City Council has extended a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries for 10 months and 15 days.

In a written staff report, Assistant City Manager Andrea Travis said additional time is needed for staff to prepare an ordinance regulating such businesses.

"This extension would also allow time for the conflict between federal and state laws to potentially be resolved," Travis said.

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La Mirada plans tobacco law

<span class=postbigbold>Ordinance would ban smoke shops in some areas.</span>

By Mike Sprague, Staff writer
Long Beach Press Telegram
Article Launched: 01/18/2007 08:47:30 PM PST

LA MIRADA - City officials are close to approving an ordinance that treats smoke shops and other businesses that sell tobacco products like strip clubs or medical marijuana dispensaries.

The ordinance would limit where the shops can open, banning them from being within 600 feet of churches, parks and schools, and within 500 feet of bars, liquor stores and other tobacco-related businesses.

"La Mirada is very proactive when it comes to public safety," Councilwoman Susan Tripp said. "Our concern always goes to the youth. If we can be protective, that's the role of local government."

The proposed law, expected to go to the City Council on Tuesday, would define any tobacco retail business as one in which the sale of tobacco products or its paraphernalia comprises 33 percent or more of the floor area or sales of the business.

The ordinance also would require the businesses to obtain a conditional use permit.

The local law would not affect existing shops, of which there are at least five in La Mirada, mostly in shopping centers.

La Mirada Mayor Pete Dames said he believes the proposed law is fair.

"We're saying, `You can be here, but there's some restrictions,"' Dames said.

City Manager Andrea Travis said existing smoke shops have not created problems in the past. Instead, she called the proposal a prevention measure.