Public Hearing to Address Issue of Marijuana Cultivation

A public hearing has been scheduled for the Jan. 6 Menifee City Council meeting to consider an amendment to the municipal code establishing standards and criteria for the cultivation and processing of marijuana within city limits.

This is an ongoing issue that has been addressed several times. The existing city ordinance prohibits mobile medical marijuana dispensaries but does not address the issue of marijuana cultivation. The Planning Commission held three public hearings earlier this year to receive public testimony, the last on May 27. The commission's recommendation to the city council was to adopt regulations for the municipal code allowing for limited cultivation of marijuana under certain conditions.

According to the public hearing notice posted by the City of Menifee, the council will consider "a new ordinance addressing marijuana cultivation and marijuana processing ... in order to establish standards and criteria relating to the cultivation of marijuana and the processing of marijuana within all areas of the city, including a possible prohibition."

The ordinance prohibiting medical marijuana dispensaries was passed 4-1 by the city council in July 2013 over the objections of some residents who said they have a legal right to use medical marijuana and would have a hard time driving outside the area to purchase it.

The city council meeting on Jan. 6 begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 29714 Haun Road.