[420 Girl]

Richard Norris has been lobbying the city’s elected leaders to allow a marijuana dispensary in Manteca.

Norris followed up a letter writing effort with an appearance Tuesday before the City Council seeking their support. Medicinal marijuana sales were allowed on a local jurisdiction basis after voters several years ago approved a proposition on a statewide ballot.

Norris, 36, has a doctor’s prescription to use marijuana to address chronic pain. The heavy construction worker has back and knee problems. He also has suffered a heart attack and stroke among other ailments.

He told council members that smoking half a joint helps relieve much of his pain for four to five hours at a time. If not, he would have to take dozens of pain killers daily.

To obtain his medicinal marijuana, Norris has to either drive to Oakland, have someone come by his house, or “go down to a street corner.”

Norris said he can’t sit or stand for more than an hour at a time.

Police Chief Dave Bricker, in responding to a council inquiry, noted the council has adopted a resolution that blocks the issuance of a municipal business license to sell any product that is illegal under local, state, or federal law.

“Selling marijuana is still illegal under federal law,” Bricker said.

The council, should they opt to accommodate Norris’ request, would need to revisit that resolution.

Norris noted Oakland is one of the cities in California that allows the sale of marijuana on a regulated basis for medicinal purposes.

Oakland voters earlier this year approved a 1.8 percent tax on every $1,000 or gross marijuana sales at that city’s four licensed medicinal cannabis dispensaries. That means every $1,000 in marijuana sales produces $18 for Oakland’s general fund.

Norris suggested allowing marijuana sales for medicinal purposes and taxing it could help ease Manteca’s general fund deficit and help fund more police and firefighters.

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