Pubdate: Sat, 29 May 2010 Source: Napa Valley Register (CA) Copyright: 2010 Lee Enterprises Contact: http://www.napavalleyregister.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/736 Author: Lisa Toller WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS OF POT DISPENSARIES IN NAPA On Tuesday, June 1, the Napa City Council will vote on a proposed ordinance to allow two medical marijuana dispensaries in the city of Napa. The citizens of Napa should have all of the information they need in order to weigh the pros and cons of having dispensaries in their town. For example, the California Police Chiefs Association, in their White Paper on Marijuana Dispensaries in April 2009, concluded after a multi-year study of dispensaries across California that: "Marijuana dispensaries are commonly large money-making enterprises that will sell marijuana to most anyone who produces a physician's written recommendation for its medical use. These recommendations can be had by paying unscrupulous physicians a fee and claiming to have most any malady, even headaches. While the dispensaries will claim to receive only donations, no marijuana will change hands without an exchange of money. These operations have been tied to organized criminal gangs, foster large grow operations, and are often multimillion-dollar profit centers. Because they are repositories of valuable marijuana crops and large amounts of cash, several operators of dispensaries have been attacked and murdered by armed robbers both at their storefronts and homes, and s! uch places have been regularly burglarized. Drug dealing, sales to minors, loitering, heavy vehicle and foot traffic in retail areas, increased noise, and robberies of customers just outside dispensaries are also common ancillary byproducts of their operations." The Yountville Planning Commission cited this White Paper in its recently passed ordinance to ban medical marijuana dispensaries. American Canyon has also established an ordinance that bans any business that does not meet state and federal laws, effectively banning medical marijuana dispensaries which are illegal according to federal law. This is not to say that seriously ill patients who have a valid recommendation from a legitimate physician should not be allowed access to medical marijuana. They should according to the law in California. There are dozens of dispensaries in close proximity to Napa, and for those patients too sick to drive to the dispensaries, some of them will deliver. It's not too late for Napa residents to reconsider the proposed plan to allow dispensaries. If you feel like the possible drawbacks of increased crime, drug dealing, sales to minors, loitering, noise and more traffic outweigh the benefits, then write, e-mail or call your City Council members today and go to the meeting on Tuesday, June 1, at 6:30 p.m., at city hall, and express your opinion. Lisa Toller (Toller lives in St. Helena.) - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D