Medical Marijuana Ordinance Voted Down

The Claremont City Council last night voted 3-1 against implementing a proposed medical marijuana dispensary ordinance. Mayor Ellen Taylor was the only person to vote for the measure. Councilmember Peter Yao was absent.

The Daily Bulletin covered the council meeting and has an article on the vote. The Bulletin article indicates that the council referred the matter back to city staff to draft an ordinance banning dispensaries.

The new marching orders to staff represent a complete about-face by the council, which had voted 3-2 last July to direct city staff draft a ordinance that would have legalized dispensaries (or at least one) in Claremont. In that July vote, councilmembers Peter Yao and Corey Calaycay voted against going forward with the draft ordinance that was voted down last night.

Councilmembers Linda Elderkin and Sam Pedroza reversed their positions from being for an ordinance to voting against it.

A temporary moratorium against dispensaries remains in place and will expire in September.

So, again we ask, was this trip really necessary?