Elk Grove to Extend Marijuana Dispensary Moratorium

Council members express support for ideal, but say ‘not in my backyard’


The Elk Grove City Council decided last week to extend its current moratorium of not allowing for the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries for ten months.

Reporting to the city council during the Wednesday, January 13 meeting was city attorney Susan Cochrane who cited findings in a California Police Chiefs Association study that found dispensaries often act as a crime magnets and would not be appropriate for Elk Grove.

Among those commenting on matter was Sarah Wheat who said as downtown Sacramento resident she never feels threatened when passing by a dispensary. “I feel more threatened when I walk in front of a bar,” she said.

Wheat went on to say that “God made pot, man brewed beer. Who do you trust?”

During council deliberations council members Pat Hume and Jim Cooper indicated while they are supportive of medical marijuana, they don’t think it is an appropriate business for Elk Grove. It was noted there are plenty of dispensaries in Sacramento and they preferred not to have any located in the city.

The council decided unanimously to extend the moratorium.

See comments from Cooper in video below.