Steven Cooley, right, hugs PS Organica patient and Crohn's disease sufferer Kelly Daniels in the marijuana collective's food pantry. / Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun
PS Organica is lobbying for a Palm Springs permit to operate. / Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun
PALM SPRINGS — The city’s medical marijuana ordinance may be amended to require cannabis quality testing before the pot is dispensed to patients — a mandate that could be the only one in California, according to city leaders and medical marijuana advocates.
Another potential change to the ordinance would allow a fourth dispensary license, something patients and advocates say can’t come too soon.
City Attorney Doug Holland said he hoped to have the proposed amendments ready for the City Council to debate this month, but is still working on the ordinance and couldn’t say when it would be ready.
Councilwoman Ginny Foat said she hopes to approve any changes before the Nov. 5 election, when voters will be asked to weigh in on a tax that would levy up to $15 on every $100 of medical marijuana sold.
“We’re going to take a look at doing things that the state or federal government should have done … in order to ensure the quality of the product being dispensed,” Holland said. “This is out of the ordinary for local government. This is typically done at state and federal level.”
It is unclear at this time who would pay for the testing, which could detect carcinogens, pesticides, herbicides or if the marijuana is laced with other drugs.
Kris Hermes, spokesman for Americans for Safe Access, a group that lobbies to advance medical marijuana policy at all levels of government, said he doesn’t know of any such testing requirements in the state.
Los Angeles used to have a testing requirement in its ordinance, but it disappeared under Proposition D, approved by voters in May.
“There are more than 1,000 dispensaries operating in California. Many of them do voluntary testing, but not the vast (majority),” Hermes said.
His fear, if the ordinance is enacted, would be higher prices passed on to consumers and an extra layer in getting the marijuana to patients.
“I’m not saying testing is inherently a bad idea, but to the extent it would restrict a patient’s ability to obtain their medicine, it’s not helpful necessarily,” Hermes said.
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