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Bad Medicine

Posted by Alex Brant-Zawadzki in Main

September 12, 2006 5:09 PM

Permalink | Comments (9)

Fullerton is certainly full of something these days. Last month the Fullerton Planning Commission approved a resolution to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in their city. In fact, all the resolution woul accomplish is a violation of California law; that and a major buzz-kill to Jay's Paradise, the dispensary whose business license application inspired the last-minute "urgency ordinance".

In 1996 California passed Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, which orders cities to set up a "plan to provide for the safe and affordable distribution of marijuana" to patients with a proven need (Health & Safety Code § 11362.5). It's called safe access, and every citizen of California is entitled to it.

Fullerton's prohibition is designed to protect the "health, safety, morals and general welfare" of Fullerton's residents and businesses, while at the same time depriving Californians of their state-guaranteed rights (though that part's in the fine print). It passed on a 5-2 margin, the dissenting votes coming from the only two Commission members with police experience. But a Sept. 7 report published by Americans for Safe Access claims that marijuana dispensaries actually provide benefits to their communities.

Can this be true? Let's compare the claims of the medi-pot mavens to the Fullerton resolution's goals.

Health

Even before marijuana could be legally prescribed anywhere, a Harvard study found that over 40 percent of oncologists were prescribing marijuana to chemotherapy patients. In the film Stepmom, Susan Sarandon's character smokes some ganja to ease the pain of chemotherapy as well as the agony of her husband abandoning her for a younger Julia Roberts-type. At the end of the day, California state law recognizes the medicinal benefits of marijuana, as do doctors worldwide.

Safety

Crime tends to drop as dispensaries usually employ security cameras both inside and out, driving away criminals (or at least camera-shy criminals). Dispensaries are painfully aware of government scrutiny, as medical marijuana remains illegal in federal eyes. On August 30 a DEA agent tried to gain access to the Trichome Healing Center's dispensary on Van Nuys in LA without a medical marijuana prescription. When employees noticed his gun, they assumed he was attempting a robbery and detained him. As Oakland Councilmember Barbara Killey notes in the ASA report, "Dispensaries themselves have become very good at self-policing." With their man's cover blown, DEA comrades rushed in to extract him—they feared for his safety.

Morals

If smoking marijuana is wrong, California doesn't want to be right. A 2004 Field Poll showed that 74% of Californians supported the implementation of Prop. 215; three in four of our fellow state-mates have no problem with medical marijuana. 50 percent of respondents also felt that marijuana was no more harmful than alcohol—up from 16 percent in 1969. The 2004 poll also found only 56 percent of Californians believe marijuana to be a gateway drug, with the more educated respondents even less likely to believe such an outdated theory. Yes, many people who go on to harder drugs start with marijuana, just like many acrobats start out walking. Marijuana is a gateway drug like Harry Potter is a gateway book.

General Welfare

In the ASA report, Berkeley councilmember Kriss Worthington called a local dispensary a "responsible neighbor and vital organization" to the community, noting that the city had received no complaints from the dispensary's neighbors; "In Berkeley, even average restaurants and stores have complaints from neighbors." Oakland councilmember Desley Brooks noted that in his community, dispensaries "have helped to stimulate economic development" wherever they crop up. Nearby businesses benefit from the added traffic of dispensary patrons who otherwise might not visit that neighborhood. And let's not forget that nobody impulse-buys like a stoner.

It seems Fullerton's latest potential resolution (PC-06-28), a knee-jerk reaction to a proposed dispensary on the 800 block of Chapman, would be entirely counter-productive to its stated goals, along with violating a California law designed to ensure that patients have safe, convenient access to the medication they need.

 

Comments (9)

1. the serrach says:
   September 13, 2006 07:09

   this is where the rubber meets the road for our local "libertarian leaning" republicans. it's nigh impossible to claim a love of freedom while depriving folks of needed medicine like this.. or, for that matter, recreational use.

   it's nice that the planning commission, who ought to be busy sucking up to developers, are looking to protect local citizens from themselves...and their doctors.

   what's to be done alex?

2. Juliet says:
   September 13, 2006 08:09

   In 20 years we will look back and wonder why it took so long for politicians to adopt policies that medical doctors have been prescribing for years. (One recent example is the distribution of Plan B over the counter).

   I also enjoyed the analogy where you relate gateway drugs to learning to walk. People walk for years and never figure out how to turn into pretzels and they seem to be doing ok.

   Keep on protesting! (either through words or really cool signs...)

3. Alex Brant-Zawadzki says:
   September 13, 2006 13:09

   Serrach;

   If you are so inclined to do something, you could always attend the 4:00 Planning Commission meeting on Sept. 27, where they plan to discuss the resolution. The meeting will take place at Fullerton City Hall, Council Chambers, 303 W. Commonwealth Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92832.

4. WillowLu says:
   September 14, 2006 16:09

   I think the next meeting is actually on the 27th.

   The Committee meets twice a month on the second and fourth Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. and/or 7:00 p.m. in Fullerton City Hall, Council Chambers, 303 W. Commonwealth Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92832.

   BYOMM!

5. Alex Franco says:
   September 15, 2006 16:09

   Alex,

   Thanks for keeping us posted about the goings on in Fullerton. You lay down a good arguement, and I'm glad the patients in Fullerton have such a cohesive message. I'd like to invite you and the other good people on this blog to the ASA Statewide Conference coming up in Burbank on October 21st-22nd. Come meet the faces of medical cannabis law implementation from the entire state!

   --
   Alex Franco
   California Campaign Coordinator
   Americans for Safe Access
   Phone: 510-251-1856 x321
   Fax: 510-251-2036
   Email: alex@SafeAccessNow.org

6. Alex Brant-Zawadzki says:
   September 15, 2006 16:09

   You are so right, Willow - and I have corrected my post to follow suit (for anyone who missed it, my initial comment said the meeting was on the 23rd). The item is slated for the 4:00 pm meeting.

   And if you have a prescription, then YES you actually CAN bring your own medical marijuana, people - they will not be able to legally confiscate it. SMOKING it, however, might get you into serious trouble. So be careful.

7. Ron Romano says:
   November 1, 2006 03:11

   I dont find it suprizing that fullerton officials tend to bend the law to their likings. Seems to me fullerton officials did the same thing with our rights to public records.For a long time they denied to hand over public records when requested. They had their own set of laws about the freedom to public records.It seems to me they make them up as they go.Maybe they are playing politition to hard, Someone needs to wake them up and set them straight.After all dont they work for us the public!

8. s. wolfe says:
   November 24, 2006 13:11

   Fullerton officials have created a Totalitarian regime. And, yes I agree with Ron Romano - "someone needs to wake them up and set them straight."
   Here is another example of Fullerton officials bending the law to their liking.
   On November 4, a Fullerton citizen was cited for vandalizing a campaign sign (Fullerton Observer, Nov. 16), even though she told the Fullerton officer that she thought the signs created a safety hazard for her elderly mother, and was merely moving the signs out of the way.
   I commend Therese Marie Beauchamp on her efforts that contributed to the safety and well being of the citizens of Fullerton. This past campaign season, citizens of Fullerton had to endure an absurd barrage of campaign signs that were carelessly taped, zip-tied, nailed, stapled onto utility poles, traffic lights, trees, highway medians, bus stop signs, railroad crossing signs, private fences and street lights.
   Many Federal and State laws and local ordinances declare these signs illegal, because: the term "Public property" does not mean that the property can be used by anyone who wants to use it for their personal gain (e.g., utility poles belong to the utility companies); the signs create a traffic hazard because they block drivers' vision at intersections; these signs are printed on "Coroplast", which looks like corrugated cardboard, but is made from non-recyclable plastic; the signs and the nails used to attach them to utility poles are dangerous and a nuisance to utility workers and pedestrians. Furthermore, Fullerton residents put a great amount of civic and volunteer effort into keeping their cities and towns clean and attractive, but during and following a campaign season, many signs are left in our streets as litter, and the sign owner is not punished or held accountable for littering.
   Lastly, upon review of the Fullerton Municipal Code on Signage, I am appalled to discover that most of the signs posted by the candidates were in violation of several enforceable codes. These people are running for public office. They will be writing and enforcing laws and they should be obeying the laws. However, it is obvious that Fullerton's elected officials and candidates running for city positions have declared themselves above the law. I encourage the citizens of Fullerton to confront our City council and demand that a stricter campaign sign ordinance is written and enforced.

9. toscana says:
   April 15, 2007 20:04

   E grande io ha trovato il vostro luogo! Le info importanti ottenute! ))