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established a method for distributing medical marijuana with their own conditions and monitoring and got away from storefronts. Heather Truro felt the Council should not ban the access to compassionate medical marijuana by banning dispensaries. She agreed that a task force to set up regulations might be the appropriate middle ground. Glenn White felt local dispensary methods could be monitored and that it’s the job of the police to protect such businesses from robberies and other related crime. Mayor Hosterman closed the public hearing. Councilmember Sullivan thanked staff for conducting the additional research, noted the citizens of California have voted to approve the enabling of medical marijuana as a public health issue and need, felt there was a law enforcement piece to be considered and that that the Council has not yet understood whether or not there is a need in the community. He said he has not necessarily advocated inviting dispensaries to Pleasanton, but information to allow the Council to make a good decision and understand the needs of the community. He felt the Council should look at this as a public health issue, said he has children and marijuana, drugs and alcohol does exist in schools, said he did his own independent research on the issue and he reiterated the idea that properly regulating dispensaries was a key to their safe and successful operation. Regarding the idea of people fulfilling their needs elsewhere, he felt people going to those other facilities overwhelms them and the resulting influx of cash makes it more ripe for others to steal, causing crime problems, and they would rather have us deal with our own public health issues. He felt there was a lot more information the Council still did not understand and before deciding on what to do, a broad based task force should be established which would include members from all arenas of public safety, public health, users, and citizens. He felt the task force should look at what other cities have done, determine the need in the community and bring back a recommendation to the Council. Mayor Hosterman confirmed Councilmember Sullivan was amenable to having the Human Services Commission to steer such a discussion. Councilmember Thorne said he attended a school district workshop regarding alcohol and drug use, and other than alcohol, marijuana was identified to be the number one problem in Pleasanton and it is out there among youth. He listened to the impassioned pleas of parents at the workshop who asked for the City’s help in trying to deal with the issue, and he did not believe putting a storefront marijuana dispensary in the City would be helpful. The concern for the illegal diversion of the product was very real, he understands the availability was an issue to those who need it, he has verified it could be delivered or picked up by caregivers, so he does not believe the need and availability of the products outweighs the risk of exposure to youth. He would generally not support any special outlets for any regulated drug in the city; acknowledged marijuana has a medical benefit and should be distributed the same way as any other drug through licensed medical or pharmaceutical outlets by prescription. He said he would not support a distribution center and felt situation between the state and federal agencies puts us in a bad situation. Councilmember Cook-Kallio felt arguments of both sides have merit, felt it was true that the majority of Pleasanton voters voted for Prop 215, areas where they have regulated dispensaries well have been successful but her bottom line is that it is against federal law. She said many have been in situations where they see people suffer, discussed court City Council Minutes 8 June 5, 2007