Medical pot dispensaries on Eureka chopping block
UPDATE: For more information see this report by Americans for Safe Access about Medical Cannabis Dispensing (pdf).
###
If current trends continue, the Eureka City Council will vote Tuesday to undo the work of the previous council and kill the possibility of a medical pot dispensary in the city limits.
Such a vote will have also wasted the time of the Medical Cannabis Selection Committee, which was underway before the current crop of obstructionists were voted into office.
The likely scenario will include a presentation by the three dispensary applicants chosen by the committee — Compassionate Care of Eureka, Humboldt Bay Wellness, and Natural Green Health Center — which will be followed by new council members wringing their hands and saying “gosh, this marijuana thing is so scary and bad and as a new councilmember I’m just so lost when it comes to California’s 14 year-old medical pot law because I don’t know how to learn stuff outside the catchy slogans provided to me by the very smart and wealthy people who put me in office so I think I’ll have to vote ‘no’ because the only way to help people in need of medicine chosen by themselves and their doctors is to build the Marina Center.”
In preparation for this possible outcome, medical marijuana advocates are asking supporters to call councilmembers (see below, and don’t bother to email — this crew is as ignorant about the computer thingy as they are about medical cannabis) and to attend Tuesday’s meeting at 6:00 at Eureka City Hall.
Marian Brady – 441-4169
Mike Newman – 441-4170
Melinda Ciarabellini – 441-4167
Lance Madsen – 441-4171
Leave a comment
Recent Comments
 | Anonymous on A Performance Review for Phil… |
| i can T stop thinkin… on BLIND ITEM | |
| Anonymous on Hank Larrabee – Humboldt Count… |
| Anonymous on Hank Larrabee – Humboldt Count… |
 | Anum08 on Another “Golden rule… |
 | Adobe crack on Another “Golden rule… |
 | Hassan001 on Another “Golden rule… |
Top Posts & Pages
The Humboldt Herald 
You say obstructionists. The rest of us say community heroes. Thank you for underscoring another reason your favored candidates lost and why they’ll continue to lose. We’ve seen the damage pot dispensaries do to a community.
The city of Eureka does not have the legal authority to ban medical cannabis “dispensaries”, as they are legal under state law, and in this case, state law trumps local ordinances. (see People V Kelly)
As a matter of fact the new AG is in the process of writing statewide guidelines for “dispensaries”.
A resident of Eureka should file suit.
Maybe you should follow all the problems that LA,
Oakland and many other cities are having with this
issue. I say “Great Job” Eureka CIty Council if you
do stop the medical pot dispensary in the city.
I come from another generation, before pot was so
popular. It is hard to change ones thinking on the
subject. Even with that thought I would vote for
the dispensaries. It is here and it is that simple.
I would rather not see growing in the homes. I have medical pot smokers next to me and they are selling,
growing and causing criminal activity in the neighborhood. What is very important next Tuesday
night is to show support for Linda Atkins. She is
sitting up there by herself. It is 5 against one.
I watched the mayor take a swipe at her the last
meeting. Ask the mayor how his position warrants
his taking sides and degrading a council person.
The Dispensaries are not going to displace home growers. Get real. If there’s money to be made, individuals will grow it and sell it.
Dispensaries should be allowed, but regulate their use like any other business. Even if the Eureka City Council votes against them, they can move up to Arcata to get closer to their clients.
We could burn all the pot shop in Hum.
Should you care to watch the last city council meeting on Access Humboldt you will see Jeff Leonard gave an informative and concise report on the three businesses chosen. One has a research slant, the other a center with meditation classes and acupuncture and the other works primarily with hospice situations. The council seems to feel free to disregard and perhaps even mock the medical application and well thought out regulations developed over the past months.
Three former law enforcement officers sit on the council. Their past experiences are legitimate but there is more to learn and experience. I hope they do take some time to educated themselves further.
Newman a “community hero”? I’m having a tough time with that one.
You can not outlaw dispenseries just because you personally don’t like them (People v. Kelly). The ONLY way to control them is through zoning and if the city attorney fails to inform them, he should be fired. In addition, there are bunches of attorneys waiting to file suit since this would be decided in their favor even before trial and could cost the city millions.
What is that old saying,
“What ya don’t know, won’t hurt?”
Or, “outta site, outta mind?”
Or, “Denial is the first stage of acceptance….and it ain’t a river in Egypt.”
Apparantly, dispensaries will make the social atmosphere in Eureka much worse; therefore, time to roll up the carpet and sweep under the antique dust and lint from an ageless issue. Anyhow, less city sales tax generated revenues is all…..not as if the city coulda used the sales tax generations to offset some budgetary needs after the state takes its revenue share…..but, that is a different discussion for another time, yes?
Good thing for the retail schmoozers that business is so good; afterall, what would not be sold in our communities that is not connected to mj, medical or not. In a time of GREAT debt, people still squabble over mundane stuff (darned religion in politics) that could be used to pay down debt – it is not as if people are gonna all-of-a-sudden quit their lifestyles when it relates to mj. In fact, I would venture to guess more and more people are accepting in society today.
Darned ideological brainwashings, lol.
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
A thought,
more places for nurses and healthcare workers to find a job IF that job is allowed.
JL
anon @3:58am- just curious, what kind of “damage” have the dispensaries done to Arcata and Myrtletown?
As for what the current politicos of Humboldt ARE planning, I hope they’re ready for a deluge of applications from check cashers, dollar stores, liquor marts, franchise eateries and paid parking lots.
Yeah! Hoorah EKA city council.
Steve, these people complaining don’t even know where the dispensaries are. Seriously, they’re looking it up right now while reading this to defend themselves. But who cares. If they have their way with Eureka, they’ll get to shuffle through the pile of applications for bail bonds offices, insurance clerks, etc. They complain about all things marijuana, but no things sprawl.
“Costing the city millions” could be what they have in mind. The more desperate the city is the cheaper it is and the easier to control. We just had a Global Investigation and law suit pay out that seems to have been forgotten.
While maintaining that the city is broke they are mishandling the funds we do have.
This next city council meeting is an important one to attend.
Personally, I think the dispensaries suck. But to say they’re the cause of problems in LA and Oakland is ridiculous…the problems of LA and Oakland have everythnig to do with a population out of control, dwindling resources and desperation on the rise. I can’t argue with people who frequent dispensaries…they genuinely need them and are greatful for the lack of hassle to get their weed.
We should write our own medical marijuana ordinance and then submit it to the people of Eureka via initiative.
It needs to be much less restrictive than the current one.
There should be at least seven dispensaries in Eureka, one in each ward and perhaps 3 in Old Town.
There is no doubt that the current dispensary law in Eureka is contrary to state law, and it is also clear that the City of Eureka under state law is very limited in what kind of restrictions it can put on medical marijuana.
There must be several dozen attorneys in Humboldt just aching to take on Eureka over medical marijuana. Why chase ambulances when you can just hang out at the city council and see accident after accident?
Citizens, your taxes will be going up. But not for services but to pay for the poor decisions of the people you mistakenly elected.
have a peaceful day,
Bill
Random Guy, I am not against Dispensaries, but is it really a “hassle” to buy weed?
Also, what percentage of frequent MJ users rely on a Medical Rx?
So what’s all this “damage pot dispensaries do to a community” that Anoymous 3:58 is posting about?
3.58am is right.
Potheads call the current city council “obstructionists”. The majority of Eurekans call them heros.
The LAST thing we need are more dopers in Eureka. My God people what kind of message do you think we are sending our children when we legitimize drug houses ?
Steak n’ Eggs…a whole new mega-village and marina center full of people would guarantee new clients. Not all of them are going to blow up the closets of their
…1 bedroom apartment to get their supply. Fug this, I got a weak net connection and shit to do anyway. Have a nice day, folks.
@Anon 8:2: All the problems that cities like Oakland are having? What problems is Oakland having with medical cannabis dispensaries? As far as I can tell, the only problems are huge tax payments from dispensaries to the city and the revitalization of the downtown Oaksterdam neighborhood. You obviously do not know what you are talking about and are just regurgitating some drivel you read elsewhere. I have spent a lot of time in Oakland and there is no “problem” with their medical cannabis dispensaries. In fact, one of Oakland’s dispensaries, Harborside Health Center, sets the standard for what a dispensary should be. You should know what you are talking about before you just start dispensing your BS.
First off I don’t think marijuana is medicine, nothing anyone on this blog could ever change my opinion on that. Los Angeles has had serious problems with “medical marijuana despensaries”. Use your computer to do a little research.
State law says that mj dispensaries are legal businesses. For the city council to refuse to allow them is obstruction, whether you agree with the law or not. Of course, the large number of cops on the city council know that their personal feelings about a particular law doesn’t negate their responsibility to obey them.
I have no respect for “Support Your Public Sector Unions” since his title excludes public sector unions deliberately. Claiming that the majority of Eurekans call them “heros” is unsupported and demonstrates his own lack of regard for the law. MJ dispensaries are not drug houses any more than pharmacies are, you ignorant neanderthal.
10:29, California law says marijuana is medicine so your personal opinion is just as irrelevant as if you claimed penicillin isn’t medicine. In fact, marijuana has been as medicine since prehistory and the seeds carried around the world in the earliest migrations.
“Support your private sector unions” just wants us to know that he supports the right-wing agenda of destroying the last unions in this country that have any political clout as he waxes piously about pernicious effects of pot smokers on our children.
Oops, my post at 10:31 should have said “Support Your Private Sector Unions.”
As a former Oaklander, I too wonder what is all the damage that is referred to??? Looks to me like it is a boost to the economy and gets activities and substances that don’t need to be illegal out in mainstream.
I agree with Bill–we should write an ordinance and draft an initiative to get it passed by the voters. The city’s ordinance attempts to micromanage rather than to protect and regulate, however, it is a beginning, allows dispensaries and is already approved. No need to go back to ground zero as the current “heroes ” seem bent on doing.
Oakland is a poor example of how to do things right, and owes nothing to the dispensaries as it does to full-blast gentrification, for the temporary fix everybody thinks they see on the city’s surface. Jerry Brown is/was money minded like the rest of them. He let Oakland’s development community build upward, bigtime. He let a military academy establish itself for chrissake. In those spiffy areas of Oakland everybody’s talking about, the cops beat the homeless into submission and out of sight. But they are still there, and swelling like everything else.
For a real look at Oakland, look at the southwest parts of the city. There is also where you’ll find the remaining areas of real art culture, along the docks and in their funky self-made communities, where code monsters and cookie cutter mentality hasn’t taken over. THe parts of Oakland that make the news were basically made FOR the news. It would SUCK SUCK SUCK if that happened to Eureka.
Look at Oakland’s neighbor, Emeryville…imagine squashing the entire population of McKinleyville into Target…for real. That’s the heart of Oakland right now. They packed em in, built upward and slapped on a coat of paint. In those massive apartments live every demographic of mckinleyville minus the comfort of living space provides. Fifteen years ago, Emeryville used to look like an industrial McKinleyville…for real as well.
Humboldt should be compared to urban areas only to point out how bad it would be to emulate them.
If Random Guy is suggesting that we follow the suburban sprawl model for development, I’d prefer his ides of “squashing the entire population of McKinleyville into Target.”
Is this council just hell-bent on reversing years of work, wasting thousands of dollars of taxpayer money for partisan reasons? I’m saying this considering the Medical Pot Ordinance, Jefferson, and the GPU stands they have taken.
That doesn’t sound fiscally responsible at all? Where are the jobs? Has there been any forward-moving initiatives on the council, or has it all been retro?
Joel, sprawl is sprawl and knows no borders. Eureka Arcata McKinleyville is one big city, in the eyes of the current money movers. Basically, what’s on the table now is urban/commercial development in Eureka and suburban/residential development in McKinleyville. They will feed off eachother just like the Oakland side of the Caldecott and the uber sprawl going on east of that. Humboldt is a microcosm of that model…that’s what they’re building right now anyway.
Real estate money makers want want squeeky clean gentrified sprawl…and they’re in office right now.
Nothing has been proposed by them to create the jobs they talked so much about. Jefferson School would have been 45 jobs. The businesses chosen by the Medical cannabis will fill empty buildings and employ people. They are not job friendly.
They are dismantling all the work and progress of the former council without proposing anything else.
Sorry to burst your bong-bubbles,there is case law out there that states City’s can zone out, pun intended, dispensaries and collectives. The council and City attorney know the case very well. Sue all you want. The City is not obligated to provided for the dispenasires. And yes, they will be heros for keeping this sham out of City limits.
Cite the law, 11:37, aka multiple other pseudonyms.
Try Lake Forest v. Moen for starters. There is another case too. The Sham is not permitted within cities not willing to play the “medical” game.
Didn’t I hear just last week that even Amsterdam’s pot shops are off limits now to non-citizen “medical patients”?
Montana has also had enough of the sham. They are also seeing the negative impacts of the these so called “medical” facilities.
Case Law, everybody who backed prohibition in the 1920’s sure wished they hadn’t after that law failed. You are correct, most people enjoy marijuana as a right of life…it’s only because of people like yourself that any “game” is being played.
I don’t care whether it’s for spiritual use, medical use, recreational use or industrial use, Americans have the right to grow, possess and use cannabis (hemp) for any reason they desire. It’s right there in the Constitution.
Even the Tea Party agrees on that, they believe in the Constitution or so I have been told.
have a peaceful day,
Bill
The guy that owned salon eclipse has no business opening a clinic of any sort.Look at how he closed up his shop in the middle of the night and ran off to cash in on pot.(since I hear he couldnt grow worth a shit)
Check out the very beginning of the Controlled Substances Act created by Congress…Section 801(1) states: “Many of the drugs included within this subchapter have a useful and legitimate medical purpose and are necessary to maintain the health and general welfare of the American people. Hmmm could they be talking about weed?
I’m still waiting to hear what all the supposed problems are with pot dispensaries. I wouldn’t want one next door to me, but neither would I want a restaurant, and a dispensary might be preferable to a bar.
State medical law, dispensaries, and patients are already here, like it or not, and regardless of one’s personal opinion.
Regulations and ordinances should clearly be in effect. Disorder has been the case for other municipalities when established rules aren’t delineated.
The vetted dispensaries chosen are relatively quiet, low key, and benign, being well-selected by Mr. Leonard and committee.
Yours truly doesn’t see much of a problem given the considerate prudent process being pursued. The current City Council is seemingly out of touch and fearfully ignorant of the issue from personal observation. However, one can appreciate efforts protecting us from ourselves, medical or not.
Goldie and others posting here having knowledge of this situation, Mr. Leonard’s conservative and considerable vetting, and the Council’s lack of awareness are accurate.
I’ve never had a problem buying pot. Bought it in foreign countries and all over the state of California since the 1960’s. The problem in CA is still the Feds. Get big with it and see what happens then.
The law could say that bug spray is medicine, doesn’t make it so PJ. Pot is no more medicine than the alcoholic laying in the gutter’s Thunderbird is.
Reporta doesn’t even try to understand her opponents. This hoped for reversal is not “partisan revenge”. It is all about the worry that drugs are doing to our society and quality of life.
And Joel would want everybody crammed into highrises than to let us expand the suburbs. Buddy, what kind of house or apartment do live in ?
Joel, the damage these “dispensaries” (read: drug den) are doing to our society is both short and long term. In the short term it is encouraging more pot smoking but making the drug cheaper, easier to get and more socially acceptable.
In the long term it will expand the use of the drug. It will destroy any attempt to teach the young people that taking that and far worse drugs are bad for you.
SYPU is using black / white, circular illogic. Humans have used mj as medicine for thousands of years, not so bug spray. Equating pot use to far worse drugs is an idiotic tactic that has never worked on anyone with half a brain and only makes kids distrust those who try it, actually leading a large number to experiment with those harder drugs since they know they were lied to about pot.
Curious as to why the need for so many Dispensaries? Are there that many MJ prescriptions to fill?
If the Eureka City Council hypothetically denied the Applicants, would a trip to Arcata be so inconvenient for the users?
Not if they did all of their shopping in Arcata as well, S&E, which is a great idea.
If the City of Eureka hypothetically outlawed pharmacies, would the trip to Fortuna be so inconvenient for people to piok up their pharmaceutical prescriptions?
have a peaceful day,
Bill
A vote like that could jeopardize the HumCPR coalition.
Which private sector union do you support, “Support your private sector unions”?
” Would a trip to Arcata be inconvenient?” What many people do not think about is the patients who use medical marijuana are sick. When you become sick your resources diminish and everything from getting dressed to planning your day is much more difficult. Some patients deal with chronic pain, others debilitating anxiety, some are in wheel chairs and some are just plain old. This is a selection of the population that we do not see. And they are very real and they are there. Now you tell me. Will they be inconvenienced by a trip to Arcata?
Medical Patients are being asked to come forward and tell their situation to the council. Really? Who will be that brave. I am sure many of you have medical conditions. How would you feel telling the city council why you are on an anti depressant? Why you take and anti anxiety drug? About the pain in your body that keeps you from sleeping?
AND
while I am at it… I do feel for the law enforcement officers on the council and those who are still active on the force. They have arrived at the scenes of mangled bodies, and crying parents, and stupid people at the worst moment of their lives… That has to be haunting and situations like that never leave a person BUT there is more to this situation, much more…
Support-your-private-sector-unions (god, what an obnoxious blogonym) answers my question about dispensaries with yet more stupid, unsupported accusations and counters my comment about sprawl with mindless speculation about my position on growth.
This idea of shutting out businesses in Eureka and sending consumers to Arcata is awesome. Jobs, baby, jobs…in Arcata. Our fair neighbor to the North will make better use of our tax dollars, too.
Perhaps the Eureka chamber of commerce could sponsor some adds inviting people to shop for their cannabis in Arcata.
I wonder the same as Down the Road. What is the Mayors role when council is in session? Surly it is not his role to chastise a council members opinion when his opinion is not the same. I have noticed the Mayors belittling response (not always limited to facial grimace) to a council members opinion more than once.
There’s an article in today’s Time-Standard comparing Arcata and Eureka’s finances.
http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_17605607
Both cities have struggled in this recent recession, due to declining sales tax revenues. But Arcata’s revenues have been significantly more stable than Eureka’s, due to Arcata having a broader ecomomic base, with more small manufacturers and other businesses, as opposed to Eureka, which is heavily dependent on sales taxes.
And yet the Eureka City Council, through its love affair with the Marina Center, is still pinning its hopes on yet another low-wage retail strip mall with a big box anchor and the boom-and-bust sales tax revenues they hope it will provide, mostly by siphoning off some of the sales tax revenues that now go to other cities and to the county for purchases made in the unincorporated areas.
In other words, Eureka is doubling down on a losing strategy. Meanwhile, they seemed poised to turn down one source of revenue that seems to be relatively recession-proof: medical cannabis dispensaries.
Well at least Arcata and the County will benefit from the City of Eureka’s shortsighted actions. So it’s not all bad…as long as you’re not a resident or taxpayer in Eureka.
Steak n’ Eggs, have you ever questioned the need for so much new construction in Eureka? New apartments and retail centers? Or so many corner liquor stores? Or even asked why there aren’t many parks and recreational facilities on the agenda?
People who say proponents of medical marijuana are playing some kind of “medicine” game don’t realize they’re the one’s playing a “drug” game. I could introduce you to a few people who I’d like to see you say to their face marijuana isn’t viable medicine.
FUCK YOU. You’re a cancer on the planet and you should be so lucky as to have marijuana available when YOU are on your way out.
I literally just got off the phone with somebody gurgling through his speach because of a tumor growing his vocal chords. It’s spread through is system from around his heart. Marijuana is the only thing that gets him to eat, AND it sooths his CONSTANT PAIN without oxy-fucking-codone whatever shit the doctors are “allowed” to pump him full of otherwise.
TRA, I totally agree. However, I don’t think the people who want to put the Marina Center on the ground even believe it will help our economy. They’re intelligent enough, and the evidence is insurmountable that they’re just feeding the beast and building up for more of the same. They see dollar signs.
Remember, there are people stting in Humboldt’s public office right now who would be all the happier and wealthier if Eureka was stuck with a Walmart ten years ago. They haven’t changed their product at all, just the packaging.
I enjoy people that were not born here trying to stop development. I thought the same when you showed up
smokemonster…100,000+ dead natives agree. Why welcome more of the people you have no respect for. That argument is spent.
I don’t care where anyone else was born. I don’t even care where I was born.
Random Guy I am sorry that your friend is in a bad way. Please tell them I wish them comfort.
And for those who are fortunate enough to not have pain, to not have friends of family members in cemo, or enduring physical hardship, take a moment to give thanks. And then consider those who are not as fortunate.
1996 is when 215 passed and we are still having the same conversation.
Please plan to attend this Tuesdays city council meeting. It matters.
Thanks goldie, although I’m not looking for condolence…everybody’s gonna know somebody stuck in a losing battle someday. Some of the posters above demonstrate how small their world is in that sense. What does it take, their own personal agony to see this particular light?
A quick audit of these naysayers’ medicine cabinets (and record collections) would reveal that they’re ignorant of their own hypocricy. If not ignorance, denial. If not denial, stupidity. Marijuana is medicinal, and the plant’s positive influence on human kind permeates every facet of our daily lives. It’s like…no duh.
A council that favors big box stores which will put local stores out of business and refuses to allow dispensaries which sell legal local product, especially in a time of need for tax revenues, might have an agenda other than what they claim.
@RandomGuy: I don’t think anyone in this thread is saying Eureka should model itself as a city after Oakland. The argument people are making is that the medical cannabis dispensaries in Oakland seem to serve the community well, do not cause problems, and are above-the-board style operations. I do not understand why people in Eureka would want to send retail dollars and tax dollars to Arcata. Besides, have the dispensaries in Arcata been “problem” spots? No. There was a dispensary in Myrtletown for quite a while and it didn’t seem to cause any trouble either. So, what’s the deal? Why so much resistance in Eureka? I don’t get it.
I would totally support sending the pot buyers to Arcata for their pot purchases.
They would fit in quite well there.
I would totally support people who have to go to Arcata to buy their pot doing all their shopping there.
Ya wonder bred, I was on a tangent spawned by other commenters. And I’m really stoned right now so it won’t get any better. I agree with everything else you’ve said too. My personal beef with dispensaries has everything to do with particular spokespeople associated with them talking passionately about the benefits of marijuana…medicinal, spiritual, etc…yet begrudging non-215 compliance within their industry or whatever. What’s more important…the business or the benefits of the “product”?
…another tangent…
@High Finance: You want to send Eureka’s medical cannabis patients and their money to Arcata? I figure that these same Eureka residents will take the cannabis they purchase in Arcata back to Eureka and use it. Thus, you are not stopping residents of Eureka from smoking cannabis. So, by blocking dispensaries in Eureka all you eliminate is a couple of store fronts, retail dollars flowing into the community and tax dollars flowing into city coffers. Brilliant plan!
@Random Guy: I can understand that you may dislike some of the spokespeople for local cannabis dispensaries (I dislike some of them too) but that isn’t a good reason for outlawing dispensaries in Eureka. You can’t base sound public policy on personal vendettas.
Back to the real world……..Let’s give some of those depressed adult’s something other to do than smoke pot. Like active adult sports in Eureka. Please encourage a yes vote on softball.
And the others with medical issues who use cannabis? Grow your own and save some money. I have nothing against someone using this herb.
“You can’t base sound public policy on personal vendettas.”
A quick search for a vendetta-fueled quote I remember reading by a local public policy pusher googled him back to life:
http://tinyurl.com/6exwljg
Sorry Random Guy, not buying what you are selling. But hey, every group needs its watchdogs to defend its interest. Suddenly Eureka cannot live without these dispensaries huh? A handful of unhealthy people are dying for a bong load, and they need their weed conveniently located in numerous locations throughout the city.
Just what Eureka needs, more dope for the dopes.
There is a group of people here who worship alcohol.
They think it is the blood of their God.
They think that people who don’t drink alcohol are godless pagans and undeserving of basic human rights.
That explains it in a nutshell.
Can anyone here not resist the temptation to speak in extremes?
Everyone with a 215 really NEEDS their medicine vs
215s are all just potheads that ruin neighborhoods.
Yeah, and all docs ‘recommending’ 215s are above board.
Give your neighbors more credit to think for themselves.
I don’t think I’m selling what you think I’m selling, Troll n’ Eggs…because I agree with what you just wrote minus the footnote. If this was about fast food joints (pun?) I’d say no way. However, the benefits of marijuana far outweigh the negatives of business around it. I consider right now to be a “prohibition era”…so in good conscience I can’t hate on anybody outing the herb. Amsterdam has alawys been riddled with pot clubs. Genres of them. Amsterdam is doing pretty good for itself, ya know. yeah yeah, europe…
Haha, yoko…instead of blood, would Humboldt’s spin be the Breath of God? A big ol’ breath…then hold it…hold it…
There’s joel’s next cartoon…Eureka City Council says no to marijuana joints, and yes to fast food joints!
Many people have very obvious health issues that would preclude most people from ever questioning their need for pot. But what about those who just plain enjoy it? It’s safe to say they must outnumber those with a medical need.
So to avoid being labeled a criminal people will couch their preference for pot in medical terms.
But if a ‘smoke’ relaxes and calms a stressed-out person, then it has accomplished the same purpose as a prescription of Xanax, Prozac. Only difference there’s no physician. No Doctor equals criminality.
So you attack someone for getting his doctor to agree that: “Yes, pot helps Mr. Smith relax after work which lowers his stress and that is of medical benefit to him.”
A few folks might agree with me that it has never been about the pot. People know it has few side-effects. It has always been about behavior. It is unacceptable in this oppressive society for an individual to “decide-for-himself” what is harmful and what is not.
It’s always been the height of hypocrisy to highlight pot’s dangers while tobacco, liquor, speed (‘energy’ drinks)and pornography are both legal and readily available.
The Roman religion during the early Empire was a pagan religion and alcohol was at the center of it’s practices. When the Roman Empire co-opted the Christian movement and made it the state religion it kept it’s alcohol and started surpressing all other religions including Pagan, Norse, other philosophical systems like Stoicism, and even “heretical” Christian sects.
Served the Emprire well for another 800 years at least until the Enlightenment.
Mark Sailors says:
March 13, 2011 at 8:03 am
The city of Eureka does not have the legal authority to ban medical cannabis “dispensaries”, as they are legal under state law, and in this case, state law trumps local ordinances. (see People V Kelly)
As a matter of fact the new AG is in the process of writing statewide guidelines for “dispensaries”.
A resident of Eureka should file suit.
Just a thought…three of the members of the Eureka City Council are law enforcement who have sworn to uphold 1. the Constitution of the United States and 2. the Constitution of the State of California. So, where you are saying municipal law does not trump state law, they view federal law as trumping state law. So far, the feds view mj as a controlled substance.
Also, as a matter of note, we are aware of many “doctors” coming from out of the area, renting a motel room, and charging huge prices to issue 215 cards to any and all that can meet their fee with no real valid medical reason.
I enjoy my wine. So I really have no opinion. But I just thought this might offer you another point of view. Cheers!
The Constitution of the United States guarantees us the right to grow, possess and use cannabis.
The people on the city council who are in law enforcement have sworn to uphold the Constitution.
They should have no problem in allowing legal businesses access to a free marketplace.
Freedom is what America is all about isn’t it?
have a peaceful day,
Bill
Well then I stand corrected. You have a good day too Bill
Pot is too easy for people to provide for themselves so it MUST be illegal. The Botony of Desire, by Michael Pollan, has a fascinating section on pot and why it is one of the oldest agricultural crops. Primarily because it increases sensual pleasure. Food tastes better, colors are more vivid, friends are funnier (and so are we) and sex…. well, you know. It’s just SINFUL! :D
Random Guy…fair enough. If it benefits the greater good than do it…especially in Eureka and not in my town (LOL).
The mayor should not be so nasty to the council members that he is sitting with. He is supposed to be open minded and not have his mind made up, right? He may have to vote so he is not supposed to have made up his mind already. And many times he has not turned the microphone on so speakers have not gotten there comments heard by those listening at home on the TV. A mistake?
The Marina Center should be the site for the dispensaries. Maybe a local franchise of Harborside could move in. Next door a big box Hydroponic store.Barge loads of soils coming and going through the bay.
Which amendment was that Bill?
It was the 18th Amendment that outlawed alcohol and the 21st Amendment that repealed the 18th and re-legalized it.
have a peaceful day,
Bill
“The issue of Prohibition became a highly controversial one among medical professionals, because alcohol was widely prescribed by physicians of the era for therapeutic purposes. Congress held hearings on the medicinal value of beer in 1921. Subsequently, physicians across the country lobbied for the repeal of Prohibition as it applied to medicinal liquors.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_States
Point taken Bill. And well done. ALCOHOL was legalized by the 18th amendment, thereby guaranteeing “us the right to grow, possess and use cannabis.”
“Just a thought…three of the members of the Eureka City Council are law enforcement who have sworn to uphold 1. the Constitution of the United States and 2. the Constitution of the State of California. So, where you are saying municipal law does not trump state law, they view federal law as trumping state law. So far, the feds view mj as a controlled substance.
Also, as a matter of note, we are aware of many “doctors” coming from out of the area, renting a motel room, and charging huge prices to issue 215 cards to any and all that can meet their fee with no real valid medical reason.
I enjoy my wine. So I really have no opinion. But I just thought this might offer you another point of view. Cheers!”
See NORML V San Diego, that case clearly says that in regards to medical marijuana Federal law does NOT trump state law, they are separate laws with separate, courts,judges, Law enforcement and prisons.
San Diego v NORML: Federal law does not trump state law, California counties and agencies have to follow State law, not federal.
Click to access SDvNORML08-050333.pdf
Read it, as far as the Supreme Court Of the USA is concerned, in this case, Federal law does not trump State law. On the other hand, the California Supreme court has ruled that prop 215 is a state wide law that MUST be enforced equally in ALL jurisdictions in California.
A doctor with a license to practice in CA may travel to any jurisdiction in CA to see patients. There is nothing at all illegal about that.
I have an issue scrapping by in this area with my small legit business while ALL my competition in the area competes against me with fake businesses. This is where I see prohibition sucking the life out of our community. I love to smoke, I don’t drink ever, and I don’t have any problem with people making money off of a cannabis product. Although when they hide there money by taking business away from legitimate businesses in the area I think they are a bunch of douche bags. After hearing the arguments from all these obstuctionist (“heroes?”; whatever) I am feeling like I should take my 215 Dr.letter and start my own indoor grow. So that I can afford to stay open. I wonder if the obstructionist and these douche bags are maybe the same people. Stores in the area are rented at a rate for growers to afford. Front stores don’t have to make any real money yet they take business away from legit businesses. Prohibition is not going to fix this problem, and prohibiting legit cannabis businesses will not either. Obstructionist heroes; what do you suggest a legit business do? Move from the area or start growing in order to provide and survive with my family? Or maybe just close and get a paycheck from a fake business instead? Prohibitionist heroes Pft’ the only cannabis problems I see were created by you douche bags.
Unless you are buying your weed from a close friend buying weed on the streets is a ‘hassle’ for sure. You risk getting ripped off or arrested, duh. A Dispensary provides safety in that regards, and ensures the money you are spending is taxed. It also ensures you that your money is not being funneled through any one of the numerous laundering businesses in the area that take and take and take from our community.
Anon @ 7:22
I am not sure that you are understanding the logic, and you have the 18th Amendment completely backwards.
You would agree with me that Americans have the right to possess and consume alcohol would you not?
have a peaceful day,
Bill
Legit Local,
You have two really valid points.
1. It is true that lots of people (like you) who would never have conceived of growing pot just a couple of years ago are now doing it or contemplating a grow, simply for economic survival.
2. You are absolutely correct that the economy is distorted (in this case to your personal disadvantage I will take your word for it) because of marijuana prohibition. This diversion of a significant portion of the economy into the black market was a major consideration in the ending of prohibition against alcohol in the 1930’s. Once alcohol was re-legalized thousands of legal jobs were created, taxes were collected, and the legal economy started growing again.
We were in a Depression then. We are in a Depression now.
have a peaceful day,
Bill
A big point is that at a dispensary there are not other illegal drugs, they have rules about allowing minors. They have enforcement and have to abide by a permit or license of some sort. There is a large drug problem and underground economy here that offers all sorts of drugs on the street along with everything else to anyone and no oversight or tax for the city.
Hopefully if we offered a safe place here for patients to get medicine this would be a better situation for the city and the patients that are trying to work within the legal system.
It seems hypocritical of you, Cali & Others, to advocate for the legalization of Pot and not of cocaine, meth and other drugs.
High Finance says:
March 15, 2011 at 12:35 pm
“It seems hypocritical of you, Cali & Others, to advocate for the legalization of Pot and not of cocaine, meth and other drugs.”
I wonder why people lament the Disappearance of Critical Thinking in America? Can one advocate the right to have hunting rifles and not shoulder launched missiles? High School Finance, have you ever heard of the idea “apples and oranges”?
Those making the Slippery Slope argument need to Get a Grip.
This just in from Kym’s Redheaded Blackbelt site today:
“The Eureka City Council has selected three applicants out of 25 for review and consideration for conditional use permits pertaining to one or more of the following: Cultivation and/or production facilities and/or distribution of medical cannabis within city limits.
The community will be given an opportunity to speak (two minute limit) on this important topic this evening, Tuesday, March 15, 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 531 K St., Eureka.
Those who wish to call-in to the Council Members, please keep your message short and simple, such as: ”I support safe access to medical cannabis, and I encourage the City of Eureka to move forward with its Medical Cannabis Ordinance.” Those addressing Council in person, please keep statements within the set minimum of two minutes.
Please note the information below for use in preparing statements for council, and to help supporters further understand the topic at hand. Attached please find Americans for Safe Access (ASA) “Medical Cannabis Dispensing Collectives and Local Regulation” report. The ASA is an organization of medical professionals, scientists and patients helping patients. The report concludes with a section outlining elements for local officials to consider as they move forward with regulations for dispensaries.
Eureka is the County seat and home to the largest number of recorded, qualified 215 patients in the Humboldt, let’s show them we care! Thank you for your support!”
Sincerely,
Kellie Dodds
Executive Director
Humboldt Bay Wellness
…could be an interesting City Council meeting tonight…
This hearing is underway. Channel 10.
Any report on how that hearing went?
It’s still going, believe it or not, but Lance and Newman have signaled they will support it, but may modify to limit it to one dispensary.
No one from the public spoke against it.
So they want to create a de jure monopoly. Yeah, that’s a brilliant idea. So much for the “free-market” “pro-business” rhetoric that these clowns usually spout.
Councilwoman Melinda just said it wouldn’t really be profitable to the city.
Council voted to adjourn meeting to Thursday where they will discuss a modified ordinance that will prevent dispensary frontage on Broadway, 4th or 5th, no visible plants, no graphic representation of plants, definition of “care giver” and other odds and ends.
Also appears they will only invite two applicants, Compassionate Care and Natural Green Health Center.
Reporting very accurate news surprisingly quickly, Heraldo hit on all the points with equal brevity in his newest post.
The City Council will again meet this Thursday, March 17, at 4pm to discuss the matter further.
Yours truly was impressed with the entire City Council tonight: As other Council members leaned in to closely hear Mr. Madsen lead in his opening comments following the discussion by the Humboldt Wellness, Natural Green Center, Compassionate Care dispensaries and 14 other proponent citizens, he detailed his overall questions and concerns with an open minded, careful, and honest clarity tempered by his usual good common sense and consideration. Mr. Newman, the surprising and sometimes doubtful wild card, surprisingly followed smartly in the same suit with admirable… compassion.
Ms. Brady and Ms. Ciarabellini, having previously done their educational homework along with the rest of the Council learning the issues of Medical Cannabis 101, conservatively asked cogent, articulate, and valid questions about product, site location, signage, tax revenue, and number of dispensaries to be allowed that were forthright and reasonable. Ms. Atkins was her usual informed, aware, and very ethical self. Mayor Jager– well, God bless him, Frank was also his usual self, too. He smiled. Twice.
The 14 members who previously spoke in favor of the medical marijuana issue did a fine job: members of the community, some with serious ailments, some not; some your next door neighbor, Uncle, Father, or perhaps your dearest Mum, all blending into the fabric of the good community by and large. What wasn’t represented were the derelicts, scoundrels, bumpkins, druggies, stoners, and the nebulous toke-smoking bong-drunk ne’er-do-wells who simply weren’t in attendance. No, these folks present were your good, common, hardworking folks who believe in compassionate care, use, and access for the very ill or hurt.
Whatever the Council decides this Thursday, yours truly believes the issue is in good hands. This Council showed they’re working together, reading their material and talking with constituents, discussing the issue intelligently, asking all the right questions of import, and (perhaps) willing to move past set opinions and prejudices of times past with good critical decision making skills, a sense of justice, fairness, and compassion.
This City Council is taking the prudent course of planning by setting rules, guidelines, and policies of medical marijuana by the taking the small, careful, and well-thought-out procedural steps and review we saw tonight.
Don’t worry Council: this will turn out alright, nothing will be broken, nothing will go terribly awry or sideways. It’ll be OK. Especially for the very sick. Thank you for both your courage and kind compassion. Yours truly was impressed tonight.
H 11.15pm. Melinda made the same point that I did yesterday here in response to another poster.
Pot clinics are not going to make the city much money at all.
Reading the comments, there’s not too much to worry about. But, by all means, worry if you like– although it would be much ado about nothing. The firsthand observation by yours truly stands. Did you see the meeting, understanding the thorough methods and steps being used– and the sick people who spoke?
The Council is initiating the right rules and guidelines in all the right places. The two facilities chosen (out of a possible six culled from 26 initial applicants) having been properly vetted are professionally discrete in both their outlook and operation, being small, low key, nonprofit caregivers wishing to comply with all that is being asked of them by a very prudent, conservative, and careful City Council.
A moderately conservative person, yours truly could respond to the naysayers but the Council has redundantly addressed these concerns through a thoughtful process.
The Times-Standard’s stalwart Allison White carried more information on this matter, “Two Medical Marijuana Facilities to Apply for Permit in Eureka,” in
her article today.
As a kind reminder:
The Eureka City Council will meet today, Thursday, March 17, at 4pm to discuss this further– and vote.
peace… skips
Perhaps if the Council appreciated the fact that Eureka has an overabundance of high grade medicine known to help those suffering the effects of radiation poisoning, they would quit biting the hands that feed us.
Perhaps the new city council members should realize that a majority of the people oppose the pot houses being legal in Eureka.
They should remember that the enthusiasm of the moderate/conservative people put them into office. If they stomp that enthusiasm out by trying to be best friends with the likes of most Heraldo posters, they will be out of office at the next election.
Frank was wrong when he said “80% of the 215 cards are fraudelent”. It is closer to 90%, maybe more. That quack who poses as a 215 doctor doesn’t even try to pretend differently.
You should start a recall, HiFi. Don’t wait for 4 years! :D
High Finance says:
March 17, 2011 at 12:39 pm
“Frank was wrong when he said “80% of the 215 cards are fraudelent”. It is closer to 90%, maybe more.”
Really? 90%? Where did you find this “fact”?
P.S. Its “fraudulent”
Case law reader says:
“March 13, 2011 at 11:37 am
Sorry to burst your bong-bubbles,there is case law out there that states City’s can zone out, pun intended, dispensaries and collectives. The council and City attorney know the case very well. Sue all you want. The City is not obligated to provided for the dispenasires. And yes, they will be heros for keeping this sham out of City limits.”
Sorry to burst your self righteous bubble but the case that is being heard is Anaheim v Qualified Patients.
“Appeals Panel Says Judge Must Hear Lawsuit Challenging Anaheim’s Medical Pot Ban
December 6, 2010 10:39 PM
SANTA ANA (AP) — A state appeals panel says an Orange County judge must hear a lawsuit challenging the city of Anaheim’s ban on medical marijuana dispensaries.
City News Service says the Fourth District Court of Appeal finalized the ruling Monday, after the California Supreme Court refused to hear Anaheim’s appeal of the decision it first handed down in August.
The justices ruled that Superior Court Judge David Chaffee wrongly dismissed the lawsuit brought by the Qualified Patients Association in 2007 based on the argument that federal marijuana laws trump state law.
They did not rule on whether state laws allowing medical marijuana pre-empt the Anaheim ordinance, and the city prevailed in its arguments that the ordinance does not violate civil rights.
Chaffee will now take up an amended version of the lawsuit.”
So far a ban based on Federal law is illegal according to the courts, and they have yet to rule on the issue of state law trumping local ordinance.