September 7, 2009 SAN DIEGO — Some San Diego city council members think the city’s rules about medical marijuana are hazy. On Tuesday the council will consider creating a task force to clear things up. The city of San Diego was waiting to see whether the U.S. Supreme Court would hear an appeal of California’s Medical Marijuana law brought by San Diego County. The court declined to consider the case. Now the city’s moving forward. Councilwoman Marti Emerald says a task force will help solidify the city’s policy on how to regulate dispensaries

After several calls expressing interest in opening a medical marijuana dispensary in Atascadero, the City Council on Tuesday could move to ban them temporarily before any potential proprietors file permits. That would reverse a 2006 city ordinance that would allow a dispensary in Atascadero. City staff is recommending that an urgency ordinance be adopted by the council to place a temporary 45-day moratorium. Current law allows just one dispensary and bars it from being within 1,000 feet of a school, church or park.

Iowa’s lawmakers must do the compassionate thing and legalize marijuana for medical use. This drug is no cure-all, but there has been enough tested research detailing its benefits to convince us that it has positive health benefits and a legitimate place in a patient’s spectrum of care. What ultimately sold us was the testimony of those who spoke Wednesday at the medical marijuana hearing sponsored by the Iowa Pharmacy Board.

ASPEN — In a tiny, windowless room outfitted with a combination keypad lock on the door, a patient mulls the potency of marijuana strains with names like Sour Diesel, Northern Light and AK-47. Sealed jars of the pungent, green buds line the sole shelf inside a locked, glass display case, along with cannabis-infused cooking oils, tinctures and granola bars. The sale of medical marijuana in Aspen is under way. A new industry has exploded across Colorado, and dispensaries are popping up in mountain towns like ski racks in November. The Roaring Fork Valley has four already, including two in Aspen, and more are expected.