Whether cities such as Scotts Valley can ban medical marijuana dispensaries will be the topic of a high-stakes court hearing.
On Tuesday, the California Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether communities can prohibit these marijuana facilities in light of the 1996 voter-approved law legalizing pot for medicinal uses in California.
As detailed in a San Jose Mercury News story, the hearing stems from a Southern California case where a wellness center sued to overturn Riverside's ban on marijuana dispensaries.
Scotts Valley is one of just two Monterey Bay cities that have some sort of prohibition in place. Seaside, in Monterey County, is the other.
Two years ago, Scotts Valley adopted an ordinance that banned medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits. However, the ordinance still allows medical marijuana patients to have pot delivered to their homes or businesses.
More than 10 South Bay and Peninsula cities, including Los Gatos and Palo Alto, also have bans in place, and there are 21 East Bay cities with prohibitions on medicinal marijuana dispensaries.
The state Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in San Francisco. A decision is expected in the spring.
