Atascadero is right to rethink total ban on medical pot cultivation

We’ll subtract a brickbat and add a bouquet to the Atascadero City Council’s permanent record for its recent decision to reconsider a total ban on growing medical marijuana.

The council passed the ban in January, when it was under the impression cities had only until March 1 to adopt local regulations on medical pot or lose control to the state.

After the governor signed a bill removing the March deadline, the Atascadero council voted to repeal the total ban. At the same time, it instructed staff to draft a new ordinance allowing limited cultivation of medical marijuana for personal use. That ordinance is expected to go to the Planning Commission on March 1.

We strongly support allowing patients to grow small quantities of marijuana for personal use, especially given the limited access to the drug in San Luis Obispo County. There isn’t a single brick-and-mortar dispensary here, which means patients have to travel out of the county or rely on mobile dispensaries.

We don’t believe voters had that in mind when they approved the Compassionate Use Act 20 years ago — a measure that included language decriminalizing possession and cultivation of medical marijuana, when it’s prescribed by a doctor.

We hope Atascadero’s decision to rescind its earlier ban inspires other cities to reconsider similar laws they were in such a hurry to pass. Are you listening Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach and Paso Robles councils?

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 8:58 AM with the headline "Atascadero is right to rethink total ban on medical pot cultivation."