Placentia takes first steps toward permitting marijuana dispensary

PLACENTIA, Calif. (KABC) -- The Placentia City Council voted to take the first step toward permitting medical marijuana businesses - including one dispensary, one growing operation and one delivery service - in the cash-strapped city.

The proposed ordinance goes beyond state regulations, as it spells out rules for security at the businesses, signage, as well as strict location parameters.

"We want to make sure that if we're going to do this, we do this right for the residents of Placentia," Placentia City Administrator Damien Arrula said.

The city wants the one permitted dispensary near the Placentia Linda Hospital. But some expressed concerns about potential crime that could come with a dispensary in the neighborhood.

"Crime, robberies, break-ins, you know, so being that close to a neighborhood, you know, it increases your worry about your home safety," Pamela Shellhorn said.

Several people at a council meeting shared Shellhorn's concerns, but some also agreed with J.R. Nichols who runs a veterans outreach foundation.

"Those individuals that are veterans, throw their pills away, go over to medicinal marijuana and they can actually function, they can operate, they can have a job," Nichols said.

Those who want to run a medicinal marijuana business in the city would have to take several steps in the application process.

The council has not yet decided if it wants to tax the sale of marijuana.

If the city council approves a second reading of the ordinance in two weeks, the city administrator said the earliest they would likely see a dispensary open is the beginning of 2017.