Scott Gates, a 42-year-old father and businessman, wants to make medical marijuana available to those suffering from chronic pain and disease on the local level.

“Asking pain sufferers and terminally ill folks to travel to other cities for their medicine does not seem compassionate to me,” Gates said.

Gates, who is active with the Scotts Valley school board, brought his idea to bring a marijuana dispensary to Scotts Valley before the city last year, and the item was heard at the Feb. 17 City Council meeting.

Rather than approve the endeavor, the city plans to evaluate the drug’s ability to serve people suffering chronic illness and the unknown elements surrounding abuse and sales of marijuana.

City leaders unanimously approved a temporary moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries so they have time to study how other cities regulate dispensaries and review related court cases. They also want to determine security requirements and prospective locations in Scotts Valley that might be appropriate for a dispensary.

The moratorium is in effect for 45 days and can be extended up to a year after a public hearing.

“I don’t have fear except for the unknown. We just need to make sure we do it right,” Vice Mayor Dene Bustichi said. “This is science. It’s not just people getting high anymore.”

Medical marijuana has been legal in California since 1996, when voters approved Proposition 215. And President Obama has instructed federal law enforcement to lay off medical marijuana users and suppliers, as long as they adhere to state laws.

Mayor Jim Reed said courts and localities throughout California are making new decisions on the issue all the time.

“We haven’t done that yet. We’ve always said no because the feds say no. But I want to leave the decision to the council and not the federal government,” Reed said. “The larger question is: Legal or not, is it good to have more marijuana in town?”

Police Chief John Weiss said the issue was complex and brought up criminal violence that might come with allowing dispensaries in the area.

But Gates said there are very basic ways to regulate dispensaries in a city like Scotts Valley. He said a dispensary wouldn’t bring more marijuana to the city, but would be a way to regulate it cleanly.

“People in Scotts Valley don’t want to see huge, in-your-face signs for all to see. I am a father, and I certainly don’t. I think they just want to know their communities are being taken care of on a local level,” Gates said. “There’s also the added benefit of tax dollars to think of.”

Gates said he advocates keeping dispensaries away from schools, churches and recreational centers. Most dispensaries steer clear of prominent signage and are not armed, he said.

“I think they should be confined to industrial areas and near medical clinics.

Gates said the idea to start The Healing Clinic Cooperative nonprofit dispensary sparked after a close high school buddy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“It was then that I truly saw the benefits of medical marijuana and realized there is a community of people with chronic pain and illnesses that need it,” Gates said.

Gates, who carries a medical marijuana card for high blood pressure and a herniated disc, has done all the state and corporation paperwork but has yet to find the space for a storefront.

“There is no brick and mortar yet,” Gates said. “It’s been hard to find a space that rent out for this sort of thing.

“Until cities start discussing and regulating marijuana law, property owners won’t be very open to it. But I think Mayor Reed and the council were very open-minded with the discussion at the meeting.”

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