City says it won’t be open for pot business any time soon

Palo Alto takes await-and-see approach, only allowing deliveries in regulations

Palo Alto officials have extended a ban against commercial marijuana activity in the city, even though voters overwhelmingly backed legalizing recreational pot last November.

The City Council on Monday unanimously adopted an ordinance that prohibits commercial marijuana dispensaries, although it allows deliveries of cannabis.

The ordinance is expected to take effect before the state enacts its own rules around Jan. 1.

While acknowledging that two-thirds of Palo Alto voters favor recreational marijuana uses, the majority of council members decided to wait and see what Mountain View and Santa Clara do. The two neighboring cities are considering allowing commercial marijuana activity at the start of 2018.

Saying he voted for legalization of marijuana but doesn’t want to see commercial operations in Palo Alto, Mayor Greg Scharff added he’s not convinced the general public cares to see them either.

He noted that in 2012, an even higher percentage of voters opposed the operation of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city. Palo Alto has banned such dispensaries since 1997.

“The problem with this is, it’s too soon,” Scharff said.

Councilmen Cory Wolbach and Adrian Fine, the only two members interested in exploring commercial marijuana uses in the near term, couldn’t muster any support for directing staff to return with possible retail or distribution sites within six months.

“I don’t think it’s unfathomable that there would be a dispensary downtown or on Cal Ave.,” Fine said, adding that the city stands to lose revenue to other cities that embrace dispensaries.

Two residents scolded the city for going against the spirit of voters by banning all commercial uses except deliveries.

“I’ve been more than shocked that Palo Alto is now producing consternation, denial, trepidation about doing something to follow through on the 66 percent of people in this city who voted for this initiative,” said Robert Smith.

He said the city had more tolerance for marijuana use when he moved there 50 years ago.