cannabisnews.com: Valley Cities Aim To Restrict Pot Clubs





Valley Cities Aim To Restrict Pot Clubs
Posted by CN Staff on July 16, 2005 at 08:14:55 PT
By Matt Carter, Staff Writer
Source: Oakland Tribune
Pleasanton, Calif. -- For better or for worse, "pot clubs" — places where medical marijuana is sold legally under California's Proposition 215 — are no longer just a big-city concern. Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin and Danville all are considering drafting rules that would ban or restrict the establishment of businesses that sell or distribute medicinal marijuana.
Manteca has adopted a temporary moratorium on marijuana clubs while the city decides whether to ban or restrict them through a permanent ordinance. The Pleasanton City Council will consider adopting a moratorium when it meets Tuesday. Because many believe marijuana can lessen the side effects of prescription medications and relieve pain, California allows residents to use marijuana with a doctor's recommendation. Since the passage of Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, businesses that dispense "medical marijuana" have multiplied in cities such as Oakland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Such pot clubs are coming under increasing scrutiny by authorities, who say lax practices can lead to marijuana and other controlled substances being sold to recreational drug users. Alameda County officials have decided to cull the number of marijuana dispensaries operating in unincorporated areas from six to three by this fall, and will charge $3,800 just to process applications from would-be pot club operators. The six marijuana dispensaries now operating are located in Ashland, Cherryland and San Lorenzo, and all will have to apply to continue operating. Fremont, San Leandro, San Pablo and Emeryville have adopted moratoriums, making it more likely that pot club operators will seek out cities without ordinances, Pleasanton city staff members said in a report to the council. "As neighboring jurisdictions adopt moratoriums on medical marijuana dispensaries, it becomes more likely that such dispensaries will be located here," the report said. Livermore, Pleasanton and Danville all have had "at least one" phone call from would-be pot club operators. Manteca has placed a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries, and the council may pass a permanent zoning ordinance that either bans pot clubs or places restrictions on where and how they may operate. "We haven't decided yet whether we're going to ban them or control them," said Capt. John Orcutt of the Manteca Police Department. "The zoning issues would be very restrictive, I would anticipate, if we do allow them into town." Manteca officials "didn't wait for it to happen to us — we took action right away," by adopting a moratorium on marijuana dispensaries, Orcutt said. "It's important to us to keep a family atmosphere. If (pot clubs) come into town, they can come into areas where we don't want them — close to churches, schools, and parks," he said. Pleasanton officials have similar concerns. "We don't want a situation where we've got pot houses where kids have access to and are purchasing marijuana that's supposedly legal in a way that's sanctioned by the city," Pleasanton Mayor Jennifer Hosterman said. Medical marijauna advocates say the clubs are necessary because the drug is not available through pharmacies. Although sympathetic to that argument, Hosterman said cities must ensure the clubs, if allowed, don't harm residents. "It's not about making a determination about whether marijuana ought to be used medically," Hosterman said. "There is a lot of good evidence and studies that marijuana can be useful for addressing the symptoms of various illnesses. We want people to be able to have access to that drug if they need it. We also want to make sure it is used properly." Danville City Attorney Robert Ewing said medical marijuana "has not been much of an issue here. We got one call maybe six months ago," from a prospective marijuana club operator. "But we are aware of what the other cities in the Tri-Valley are doing, and we will more than likely take the issue to our council at some point," Ewing said. The medical marijuana debate was complicated by last month's U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding federal laws that ban the possession and use of the drug. But California Attorney General Bill Lockyer has issued bulletins to state law enforcement agencies saying Prop. 215 still applies, and that police should not seize marijuana or make arrests when someone is using the drug in accordance with state law. Orcutt said Manteca police are following those guidelines, which allow individuals to grow up to 12 plants or possess six "buds" of marijuana. Medical marijuana dispensaries, which stock much larger quantities of the drug, are susceptible to raids by federal agents. Pleasanton city staff are recommending that the council adopt an "urgency ordinance" placing a 45-day moratorium on pot clubs while the city studies the issue. The ordinance requires the support of at least four of the council's five members, and may be extended for up to 22 months. City officials want to study whether they have the ability to approve and regulate an activity that's barred by federal law, and study procedures adopted in other cities. If the city decided to allow marijuana dispensaries, it might require criminal background checks of operators and their employees, prohibit dispensaries near schools and other sensitive areas, and place limits on hours of operation. Source: Oakland Tribune (CA)Author: Matt Carter, Staff WriterPublished: July 16, 2005Copyright: 2005 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: triblet angnewspapers.com Website: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on July 17, 2005 at 11:39:48 PT
Jose
You're welcome. 
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Comment #15 posted by jose melendez on July 17, 2005 at 11:31:54 PT
thanks, FoM
That does help, thank you! 
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on July 17, 2005 at 11:04:44 PT
Jose
I re-read your post and do you want to know how I know what source to use? If so with the AP articles I post as AP articles no matter what paper the article is in. If an article is published in a paper even if it's an online only article I use their copyright info. Does that help?
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on July 17, 2005 at 09:23:22 PT
Jose
Mapinc. sent me a list of what they told me I must snip a few years ago. I don't think I have it on this computer but I almost have it memorized what I can't use. Is that what you wanted to know?
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Comment #12 posted by jose melendez on July 17, 2005 at 09:02:32 PT
question
How does one determine the type of source?
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on July 17, 2005 at 08:23:05 PT
Jose
Thank you. Yes, we shouldn't forget. That paper is a snipped source so I wasn't planning on posting it but it's good to read and very sad.
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Comment #10 posted by jose melendez on July 17, 2005 at 06:10:59 PT
remember
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20050717-9999-1m17pot.html
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by charmed quark on July 17, 2005 at 05:24:47 PT
Recreational Users?
They want to regulate the clubs to prevent recreational users from obtaining cannabis? I got news for them - those users can easily obtain cannabis on the street, probably for a lower price than at the clubs.In a way, it might be nice for the towns if the recreational users did use the clubs. It would reduce the illegal street activity that I'm sure the towns don't want.I'm all for reasonable regulation. The medical users don't want to have to deal with a black market environment. That's the whole point of the clubs. To let them obtain their medicine away from a criminal environment.But when I checked out the clubs in the Bay area a couple of years ago, they seemed very well run. You couldn't even get in the door without showing your letter from your doctor. I talked quite a bit to one club operator, and he said that for new members they would call the doctor to verify the letter. 
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Comment #8 posted by jose melendez on July 17, 2005 at 03:14:59 PT
this american life
"The whole thing's a sham," http://thislife.org/pages/descriptions/99/143.html
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Comment #7 posted by ekim on July 16, 2005 at 21:01:19 PT
how about showing this to Sandra Jean Simpson 
Comment #9 posted by global_warming on July 16, 2005 at 13:07:49 PT 
Submitting Link 
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread20957.shtml#11Medical Marijuana Activist Steve McWilliams commits suicide under threat of jail time. Where is the compassion? There will be a memorial service for the public Tuesday, July 19th Noon Civic Center Concourse Plaza 3 rd and B Street, Downtown San Diego 202 C. Street 
http://www.leap.cc/events
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 16, 2005 at 18:08:14 PT
News Article About Steve Kubby
British Columbia in Brief Refugee Status Denied for Cancer SuffererBy William Mbaho Saturday, July 16, 2005 Page S2 
 The Federal Court of Canada yesterday dismissed the judicial review application of American refugee claimant Steve Kubby. Mr. Kubby and his family came to Vancouver in 2001 and claimed refugee status on the grounds that he required medicinal marijuana to treat his adrenal cancer.Madame Justice Sandra Jean Simpson said in her ruling that Mr. Kubby's fear of imprisonment for using marijuana in the United States does not provide a sufficient basis for refugee status in Canada. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050716/BCBRIEFS16-2//?query=marijuana
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Comment #5 posted by goneposthole on July 16, 2005 at 15:41:23 PT
Cannafest here like Oktoberfest in Deutschland
Come on, life can be fun, for gosh sakes, live a little."Wild and crazy stuff was going on in some of those beer houses, for instance, in the famous Hofbrau House (the only one that stays year round) girls were not allowed to be wearing bras and guys, no underware! They would snatch them right off of you and some people were even dancing around naked, I don't know how they got away with this because security is everywhere. Busty waitresses can carry handfuls of foamy beer steins to tables that hold about 10 or more of your soon to be closest friends. People are eating hendel and pretzels, bratwurst and saurkraut, and mandelin. Ahh, the smells of Oktoberfest, once you can get past the beer smell that is, the food is incredible. One beer and you are good to go! Those mugs must hold about 4 12 ounce beers! Even the children have been seen trying to lift the mugs to their mouths to get a taste of all the fun. And these people are continuosly toasting to something! They tap mugs then tap the table and then drink!"
relax, have some fun
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Comment #4 posted by afterburner on July 16, 2005 at 12:35:44 PT
Regulate, Don't Prohibit
"It's important to us to keep a family atmosphere. If (pot clubs) come into town, they can come into areas where we don't want them — close to churches, schools, and parks," he said."family atmosphere"? All medical cannabis patients are members of *some* family.
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Comment #3 posted by mayan on July 16, 2005 at 11:16:28 PT
Killer Drugs
"It's important to us to keep a family atmosphere. If (pot clubs) come into town, they can come into areas where we don't want them — close to churches, schools, and parks," he said.I wonder how many pharmacies,tobacco shops and liquor stores they have? Never mind the killer drugs but let's demonize the plant that has never killed a soul. Sorry if these have been posted...Mexican, U.S. border states try to stem drugs war:
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2005-07-15T035908Z_01_N1452703_RTRIDST_0_USREPORT-MEXICO-USA-BORDER-DC.XML'Pleasure drugs' boom on way, says think-tank:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/07/14/ndrug14.xml&sSh%20eet=/news/2005/07/14/ixhome.htmlSetting the stage? Let's hope not...U.S. Terror Attack — 'Ninety Days at Most':
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,161962,00.htmlTHE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Rep. McKinney to Hold All Day Briefing on 9/11 -- Exposing Sham of 9/11 Report:
http://911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=592&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0WTC Maintenance Worker Announces Plans For Upcoming National 9/11 Truth Speaking Tour:
http://www.arcticbeacon.citymaker.com/articles/article/1518131/29242.htmThink about these questions, and then start asking questions:
http://wuamericaru.blogspot.com/2005/07/think-about-these-questions-and-then.html
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Comment #2 posted by runderwo on July 16, 2005 at 11:11:23 PT
churches, schools, and parks
Why all the hubbub about med-MJ outfits operating near "churches, schools, and parks"? Is there some kind of aura of corruption that extends outwards from a dispensary that we have to keep away from our children in order to protect them? I don't understand this logic. Certainly, church goers shouldn't be offended that someone is using a natural herb to alleviate their ailments; that is, unless they think medicine is strictly for faith healers to perform.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 16, 2005 at 10:41:32 PT
Off Topic: Cannabis Has Never Killed Anyone!
FDA Probes Deaths of 120 Users of Painkiller PatchAssociated PressSaturday, July 16, 2005; Page A09The government is investigating 120 deaths among users of patches that emit the painkiller fentanyl and warned patients yesterday to use the powerful narcotic properly to avoid accidental overdose.The Food and Drug Administration is probing whether the deaths are related to inappropriate use of the painkiller or factors related to the product's quality. 
At least some may have been accidental overdoses, and some reports suggest that patients or those prescribing the medication were not aware of crucial safety information on the drug's label, said the FDA's Robert Meyer.Among the warnings in patient information sheets issued yesterday:· Fentanyl patches can cause trouble breathing, which can be fatal. Users should seek emergency help if they have trouble breathing or extreme drowsiness with slowed breathing; feel faint, dizzy or confused; or have other unusual symptoms. These symptoms can be signs of an overdose.· The patches are only for moderate-to-severe, round-the-clock pain expected to last for weeks.· The patches should not be a patient's first narcotic painkiller and are only for people who are used to morphine or opioids.· People with sudden or severe asthma or a gastrointestinal problem called paralytic ileus should not use the patches.· Patches should be stored out of reach of children and discarded by sticking the adhesive sides together and flushing them down the toilet, not in trash cans.Abuse of fentanyl patches is a recurring problem because they contain such a high concentration of the controlled substance. But Meyer said the current concern stems from legitimate patient use."The directions . . . must be followed exactly to prevent death or other severe side effects from overdosing," the FDA warned in letters to doctors that also advise prescribing the lowest possible dose.The patches were first approved under the brand name Duragesic in 1990, and a generic version hit the market in February.Copyright: 2005 The Washington Post Company http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/15/AR2005071501720.html
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