Last night, Sacramento city council voted unanimously to allow all 39 medical-cannabis dispensaries registered with the city a chance to remain open.
Previously, the city had planned to cap the number at 12.
Their decision is a sort of sea change for the council, who for nearly a decade ignored Sacramento’s medical-pot clubs before imposing a moratorium on new ones last year.
“This was highly contentious,” Council member Steve Cohn said of the ordinance-crafting process.
But after research—and council members actually visiting clubs—the city appears ready to support a small but growing cannabis industry. In fact, Lauren Hammond said she was “pleasantly surprised” when she visited a club in her district—in spite of what she referred to as a “pungent” odor.
Still, the Special Use Permit process to determine which clubs remain open, and where, will be lengthy—and expensive; most dispensaries will have to have a hearing in front of a commission, which takes time and costs city money.
Evidently, the council thinks its worth it.
What’s more, an ordinance and permitting process that applies to cannabis cultivation will be tackled by the city later this year. And this November, city residents will vote on a measure to tax cannabis.
Jon Stewart has a goatee, or what my gf would dismiss as “jail pussy.”
Got crappy paint?
Tyreke Evans cut from Team USA →
Saw this coming, though, with the sore ankle. Too bad—and would have been interesting to see whether Evans made the team had he not been hurt.
Breton admits to driving stoned in his latest appeal for readers to reject Prop 19.
He also calls pot “hippie lettuce.” Haven’t heard that one before.
The Bee vs. Morton’s hot beef redux
Morton’s Blue Cheese Steak Fries or a dog’s regurg on frozen tater sticks?
Did the Sacramento Bee run a please-forgive-me Morton’s Steakhouse puff piece in today’s Ticket section? It sure reads like it.
A little back-story: In January 2009, Bee food critic Blair Anthony Robertson drubbed Morton’s (in an article that is now part of the Bee’s archive, which can be read for $2.95 and is probably worth the three bucks). Anyway, the story solicited fevered response online as to whether Robertson went too far in his critique.
Since the review, Robertson has earned a reputation as a scribe with a penchant for scathing take-downs, particularly steakhouses, a la trashing Iron Steaks.
Anyway, in today’s Ticket section, contributor—and junior-college paper Sacramento City Express staffer—Casey Mar reviews Morton’s “Power Hour.” The headline proclaims: “Morton’s a good value for happy hour.”
Oh really?
Funeral at the movies?
Today’s Bob Shallit column in the Bee reports the the Crest Theatre is up for sale. This comes on the the heels of news that Broadway’s Tower Theater also is on the market.
Sid Garcia-Heberger, who does a great job programming the Crest, says in the story that she isn’t going anywhere. I like her confidence: Either she knows the potential buyer, has assurance from the current owner or is just downright certain that she’ll be doing what she does so well for a long while. Good thing any way it pans out.
The crazy news from Shallit’s column is that Reading, who owns the Tower, is shelling out a paltry $1,700 for its monthly lease? Whoa!
