Pubdate: Tue, 30 Jun 2009
Source: Daily Review, The (Hayward, CA)
Copyright: 2009 ANG Newspapers
Contact: http://www.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview/writealetter
Website: http://www.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1410
Author: Jason Sweeney
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/dispensaries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA FORUM PLANNED FOR SAN LORENZO

SAN LORENZO - Local resident Brenda Carr thought an April 22 
community forum on medical marijuana was informative. But she sensed 
that the audience wanted even more information, she said.

So Carr has organized another forum, to be held 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday 
in the Community Center Auditorium, 377 Paseo Grande.

Panelists will discuss social, economic, political and legal issues 
related to the operation of marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated 
communities, Carr said.

"This forum is not to promote the usage of medical marijuana," she 
said. "The objective is to build bridges by providing information to 
our elected officials, local law enforcement and community members. 
We want community members to come. Please bring tough questions."

At the April forum, four Alameda County supervisors discussed 
proposed revisions to the county's medical marijuana ordinance and 
concerns surrounding medical marijuana dispensaries in the 
unincorporated areas.

"It's very understandable that people will have questions about 
dispensaries when they come into a community," said Dr. Amanda E. 
Reiman, an administrator and lecturer at the School of Social Welfare 
at UC Berkeley.

Reiman, who researched marijuana dispensaries in San Francisco and 
Berkeley for her doctoral dissertation, will be one of the panelists 
at Thursday's forum.

"One of my findings is that the clientele is going to reflect the 
composition of the community," she said.

"I really want to open the dialogue as far as what some of the 
options are for a community like San Lorenzo and what kind of model 
works best."

Carr, whose son operates a medical marijuana dispensary in San Mateo 
County, said San Lorenzo community members need to better understand 
medical marijuana and the public policy that regulates it.

"I don't want pot clubs in my neighborhood," she said.  "I want 
medical marijuana clinics that provide a range of medical support services." 
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