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8A <br /> 7.A. - Page 31 Page y� <br /> Page 2 <br /> Abaut �00 cities ha�e chosen to ban collectives. The City of Anaheim chose to ban <br /> them and t�is ban f�as bee� challenged in court. A decision from the appeflat� court is <br /> c�rrently pendi�g. <br /> Many cities have elected to enact a moratorium on medfcaf marijuana-orientec� <br /> bE�51f��5SB5, a�lowing them to defer a de�ision whife studying th� potentiai impacts of <br /> �ermitting medical marij�ana cof�ectives or ailowing t#�em to operate. The City of <br /> Claremont's mora#arium was rscently upheld in cour�. <br /> Staff has not received any appiications to da#e, b�at has responded to serious inquiries <br /> fram four praspective appficants regarding the Ciiy's requir�m�nts for establishing <br /> medica[ marijuana collectiwes/cooperatives. Staff �as also recei�ed numerous other <br /> requests for infarmation and assistance a�o�at establish�ng #hese uses. Lacations <br /> praposed by prospecti�e applicants range from #h� in#ersection of Jefferso� Avenue and <br /> E! Camino Reaf, the intersection of Whipple A�enue and E! Camino Real, #he 500-block <br /> of Woodside Roa� and muftiple sites on Ve#erans Boulevard. Some of tnes� locations <br /> are in close proximiiy to sehools, ehild care centers, and neighborhoods. <br /> Medica[ marijuar�a-oriented businesses are not expressly regulated within the Redwo�d <br /> City Municipa! Code or Zoning Ordinance; however, this type af fa�d use mi�ht �e <br /> consid�re� similar to a pharmacy, medicaf office, or c[inics. Under the City's current <br /> Zoning Ordinance, such a business cvuld potentia[ly operate i� a variety of zoning <br /> districts, �nc[t�ding near schools or day care faciiities by abtaining a Use Permit. <br /> However, approp�ia#e evaluation of such a permit is cause for conc�rn b�cause the Gity <br /> has no adopted ordi�ances, policy or experience with the use. <br /> In addition to the poten#ial probl�ms associafed with the distribution of marijuana near <br /> schoofs and day care facilities, the iack of framework for medical mar��uana-related <br /> businesses to operate fn Redwood City poses a potential thr�at ta the health and safety <br /> of ihe public. Near�y cities ha�e dacumented that the establishment of inedical <br /> marijuana-related busir�esses can ca�se adverse effects such as increased crime. �aw <br /> enforcemen# authorities in c�ties where such businesses exist report increases in i�legaC <br /> drug activity and sales, robberies of patrons, loitering, and other criminal activity in the <br /> vici�ity af the faciGty. The R�dwoad City Police Chief, wha supports the moratorium, <br /> has provided a memo relafed to law et�farcemer�t issues and supporting doc�ments <br /> associated with respect to medical marijuana-related b�sinesses (Attachment 2). <br /> Because af the hEgh nUmber of inquiries recantly received by the City's Pla�rning, <br /> Hausing and Economic D�v�lopment Department by prospecti�e applicar�ts desi�ing #o <br /> operate medical marijuana-reiated busir�esses, it is appropriate to adopt a moratorium <br /> to alfow staff ta do the research necessary to draft appropriate regu�ation5. Research <br /> wili �r�clude reviewing best pr�ctices from ot�er cities to address qt�estions such as: <br /> 1. Shouid medical marijuana collec#ives be restricted #o �ertain zones? <br /> 2. Shouid a medical marijuana collective be a permit�ed use, prahibited use or <br /> conditional use (considered by the Zoning Administrator)? <br /> 3. Should medical marij�ana collectives have minirnum distances separating them from <br /> other me�ical marijuana-re�ated �usir�esses or sensitive uses sueh as schoals, <br /> residential districts an�lor churches? <br /> 2 <br />