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<br />7. There is a conflict between California State law, which allows marijuana <br />manufacture and distribution in special circumstances of medical need, and <br />federal law, which criminalizes the manufacture, distribution or possession of <br />marijuana. <br /> <br />8. The United States Supreme Court addressed but may not have resolved the <br />conflict between state and federal law in Raich. In Raich, the United States <br />Supreme Court held that federal law prevails over state law if there is a <br />conflict. The United States Supreme Court did not, however, expressly strike <br />down Proposition 215. <br /> <br />9. Until such time as the conflict between state and federal law is conclusively <br />resolved, the City will be unable to determine if medical marijuana <br />dispensaries can legally be established and regulated within the city. <br /> <br />J. If medical marijuana dispensaries are permitted in the City and left unregulated, they <br />will pose a serious threat to the public interest, health, safety and welfare for the <br />following reasons: <br /> <br />1. Medical marijuana dispensaries established in other cities have been <br />associated with increases in illegal drug activity, illegal drug sales, robbery of <br />persons leaving dispensaries, loitering around dispensaries, falsely obtaining <br />'identification cards' to qualify for medical marijuana and other increases in <br />criminal activity (San Francisco Chronicle, W. Buchanan, "San Francisco <br />Operating With No Oversight, City Officials Debate How to Rein in Growth of <br />the Shops and Those Who Abuse Prop. 215's Intent," April 24, 2005.) <br /> <br />2. Medical marijuana dispensaries if allowed in the City under the current state <br />of the City's regulations will have adverse secondary effects on surrounding <br />properties, including but not limited to lowering property values and <br />introducing incompatible land uses to existing neighborhoods. <br /> <br />K. In order to prevent frustration of said studies and the implementation thereof, the <br />public interest, health, safety and welfare require the immediate enactment of this <br />ordinance. The absence of this ordinance would create a serious threat to the <br />orderly and effective implementation of any code amendments, general plan <br />amendments or specific plan amendments which may be adopted by the city as a <br />result of the studies in that the establishment or construction of medical marijuana <br />dispensaries may be in conflict with or frustrate the contemplated updates and <br />revisions to the Code, general plans or specific plans. Moreover, permitting such <br />medical marijuana dispensaries to be established or constructed during said studies <br />and implementation would create impacts on the public health, safety and welfare <br />that the city council, in adopting this ordinance, has found to be unacceptable. <br /> <br />L. The Request for Council Action for this ordinance dated October 16, 2006, and duly <br />signed by the City Manager shall, by this reference, be incorporated herein, and <br />together with this ordinance, any amendments or supplements, and oral testimony <br />constitute the necessary findings for this ordinance. This Request for Council Action <br /> <br />Ordinance No. NS-2728 <br />Page 3 016 <br />