Medical Marijuana Protesters Go to City Hall for Council Vote

A loose coalition of medical marijuana advocates and supporters put together a protest march in front of the Federal Courthouse on Monday, March 28. Starting at 12 noon, an estimated 100 or so activists began to wave signs and banners at passing automobiles and downtown pedestrians.

Medical marijuana activist Eugene Davidovich grabbed a megaphone and started the group chanting, "Regulate, don't eliminate," in reference to the San Diego City Council’s vote on pot dispensaries that was scheduled for 2 p.m. Some activists feared the council would vote to immediately shutdown every collective in the city.

At 1:00 p.m., protesters marched up Broadway to Second Avenue with a police-motorcycle escort. They made their way across Broadway and regrouped in front of City Hall, where they continued their boisterous protesting amid the honking of passing motorists’ horns. The group entered city council chambers around 2:00 p.m.

After hearing several hours of public comment, the council voted 5-2 (District 8‘s David Alvarez was not present) to establish a zoning ordinance that requires pot pharmacies not be located closer than 600 feet of libraries, parks, churches, schools, child-care facilities, or other dispensaries. Those dispensaries now operating in violation of the new ordinance have 30 days to close their doors.

Another ordinance passed by the council requires fingerprinting of dispensary owners and operators.