Pubdate: Tue, 15 Feb 2011
Source: Martinez News-Gazette (CA)
Copyright: 2011 Gibson Publications
Contact:  http://www.martinezgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5153
Author: Greta Mart
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries

SEEKING COUNCIL ON CANNABIS

Three of Five City Council Members Convey Their Thoughts on a 
Martinez Medical Cannabis Dispensary

Last week, the Gazette sent out a questionnaire to the Martinez City 
Council members requesting their individual thoughts on the medical 
cannabis dispensary issue. We asked five questions and received a 
complete response from Council member Janet Kennedy. Mayor Rob 
Schroder opted out of any in-depth response, likening the request to 
asking a judge to comment on a case prior to a trial. Council member 
Mark Ross submitted a brief response via his Blackberry. Council 
member Mike Menesini indicated he was out of the office until Monday 
evening, past our deadline. We received no response to our inquiry 
from Council member Lara DeLaney. Below are the questions we asked 
and the responses we received from three Council members.

JANET KENNEDY

Gazette: Some residents have voiced they are proponents of medical 
cannabis, but that dispensaries do not belong in Martinez. What do 
you say to these folks?

Kennedy: Certainly they are entitled to their opinion and I would ask 
them why they were or were not in favor of facilities in Martinez. It 
sounds like the NIMBY (not in my backyard) thinking that usually 
surrounds affordable housing.

Gazette: Does the fact that a Martinez MCD would be the only one in 
central and eastern Contra Costa County make you inclined to join 
your MCD-banning neighbors or enthusiastic about the likely boom in 
business as area patients patronize Martinez rather than MCDs located 
in Oakland, Berkeley or San Francisco?

Kennedy: If a facility in Martinez truly was the only one in the area 
then the operators/owners of that facility would certainly be the 
ones to reap the benefits. My concerns if that were the case would be 
security-not only at the site but after customers left the facility, 
traffic, impact on the residents, business owners, and public safety. 
All the emphasis seems to have been placed on the facility rather 
than the impacts to anyone outside the facility. Once someone leaves 
the dispensary the public safety issues become the burden of the City.

Gazette: This past week, the owner of CK motors discussed with the 
Gazette a vision to create a City-run dispensary, where all profits 
go into City coffers or enterprise fund, working similar to the water 
fund. In your mind, is this a viable idea?

Kennedy: I made a joke a while back that the police department should 
operate the dispensary and that would reduce the issues around crime 
and appropriate use of marijuana by the customers. Seriously 
speaking, the City does not want to take on that kind of liability, 
which in my mind far outweighs the benefits.

Gazette: If a dispensary is established, would you be in favor of 
putting a measure on the ballot similar to Oakland's 2009 Measure F?

Kennedy: I would have to make that determination after dispensaries 
were established to see the real impact to Martinez.

Gazette: Do you agree with the Planning Commission that a downtown 
dispensary should be off the table entirely, as some merchants would 
welcome the added, much-needed foot traffic?

Kennedy: Our current ordinance has a 1,000-foot boundary and until 
that is changed I don't believe a downtown dispensary would qualify. 
I am sure that there are as many merchants that would not to see a 
dispensary in the downtown as there are those that might.

ROB SCHRODER

Because this issue will be before the council on Wednesday it is not 
proper for me to speak to the issue advocating or opposing prior to 
the public hearing and public input. It is improper for me to take a 
position on one side or the other at this time. It is like a judge 
deciding a case prior to the trial.

As I said during the campaign, I wish he Federal government would 
bite the bullet and regulate and dispense medical cannabis like every 
other pharmaceutical. Your doctor writes a prescription for the 
medication with dosing instructions, you take the prescription to 
your local pharmacy and they fill it. Unfortunately they are not 
dealing with the issue.

I also personally understand the need for the sick to have easy 
access to their medicine to relieve pain and other symptoms of 
disease. There is nothing worse than looking into the eyes someone 
suffering when their medicine is not available.

For the last several weeks I have been studying the issue, reading 
the ordinance, emails and the minutes of the Planning Commission 
meeting. I have also toured two medical cannabis facilities in the 
East Bay. I am keeping an open mind and in the end will do what I 
believe is best for the Martinez Community.

MARK ROSS

I will listen to the subcommitte's recommendations, staff, and most 
importantly the public. I'm concerned about the message we are 
sending to our youth. I would tell them that if someone says, "Yes, 
but you'll make a lot of money!" you should be wary. And I'm wary of 
this proposition, well meaning and compassionate as some elements are 
of this proposal.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom