[SeniorBuzz]

Santa Cruz pot shops may be allowed to open on Sundays

SANTA CRUZ - The two medical marijuana shops in town could be allowed to stay open more than some standard pharmacies.
The city Planning Commission voted 4-3 on Thursday in favor of amending the zoning ordinance related to medical marijuana dispensaries to expand operating days to include Sunday, which would permit the drug to be sold 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
Commissioners Scott Daly, Rod Quartararo and Mari Tustin voted against the proposed 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday operations.
"It just seems like a lot of time. I can't even go to the dump on Sundays," Quartararo said. "CVS, for example, doesn't even make those kind of hours." The national chain opens its Front Street pharmacy 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Planning officials said they don't expect Sunday business at medical marijuana dispensaries to impact residential uses because the dispensaries must be located more than 50 feet from a home.
"Staff is also of the opinion that allowing dispensaries to operate on Sundays will provide a public benefit to patients who may have no other time available to visit the dispensary," planner Mike Ferry said in a report to the commission.
Scott Wade of Greenway Compassionate Relief Inc., the Dubois Street dispensary that opened in 2006, said the extra day and hours are designed to benefit patients who can't access the shop at other times because of work or other reasons.
Wade,

who asked the City Council in April to expand operating hours, said there is "high demand" for the dispensary to be open Sundays.
"If we can help even just one patient on Sunday, it's worth it for us to stay open," he said. "It's all about being there for the patients."
The City Council must approve the planning commission's recommendation before the amendment goes into effect.

https://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-...nclick_check=1