Hollister Mayor Victor Gomez said city officials must be
prepared for the possibility of Purple Cross Rx, whose proposal for
a medical marijuana dispensary here has been turned away by
officials, still opening and serving area customers.
Hollister Mayor Victor Gomez said city officials must be prepared for the possibility of Purple Cross Rx, whose proposal for a medical marijuana dispensary here has been turned away by officials, still opening and serving area customers.
Council members at their meeting last week voted against changing the zoning code – which prohibits functions that violate state or federal law – to allow for such operations. Gomez, however, expressed concern to the Free Lance because Purple Cross Rx has received a seller’s permit with the state board of equalization, effective Friday.
Council members sided with the notion to disallow such pot dispensaries because they violate federal law, while the state has permitted the operations since California voters approved of medical marijuana legalization in 1996.
Gomez said the group hasn’t opened lines of communication and noted how the only contact from the organization during the process, other than receiving a report detailing its intentions, has been one e-mail “pretty much stating they’re taking new customers.”
“That kind of had me head scratching,” Gomez said. “I thought, ‘Oh great, they’re just going to open up their doors.'”
That’s precisely what a group called Medileaf did in Gilroy after its city council in November rejected a similar proposal. The dispensary opened without the city’s OK, and now the two sides are fighting over the matter in court.
Hollister officials also have noted that Purple Cross Rx appears prepared to deliver medical marijuana in San Benito County. Its Web site, www.purplecrossrx.org, promotes the delivery service and lists off prices as well. The drivers are volunteers, it says, and the hours of operations are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Purple Cross Rx representatives could not be reached immediately before publication.
“Our concern right now is just being prepared and ready for any outcome,” Gomez said.
Councilman Doug Emerson has other concerns as well, such as the lack of clarity with Purple Cross’ nonprofit designation. Regarding the notion of Purple Cross opening shop or delivering in San Benito County without authorization locally, Emerson said involving the police department or district attorney would be a “strong possibility.”
“Personally, I think there’s a need for medical marijuana in certain circumstances,” Emerson said. “I’m scared about the lack of regulations and enforcement I’ve read about.”
For more see the Free Lance on Tuesday.
