Medical Marijuana Madness

The villagers were out in force on a Wednesday evening on October 24 at a Riverside Drive commercial building complex just outside city limits, and though while not armed with pitchforks and torches were just about as riled up and fearful as the mobs in corny monster movies. The villagers in this case are the residents of the La Mancha housing complex, and they’re up at arms about a medical marijuana dispensary that may open its doors adjacent to their peaceful village to strictly qualified patients.

Many neighborhood opponents vehemently expressed their concerns to a panel of five proponents moderated, sometimes refereed, by Sonoma Index-Tribune editor David Bolling. As reported in that paper most of the neighbor’s questions and comments voiced legal, security and property value concerns. A consensus among the dispensary opponents seemed to be: We’re not against medical marijuana per se, but we don’t want it in proximity to our ‘hood. Right or wrong this is classic NIMBYism and no surprise.

The reality of this issue is this: Patients who need marijuana for medical purposes are not clustered in one town or area of the county, they’re all over the place. To suggest, as it was, having one Sonoma city or district as the designated medical marijuana dispensary area – Santa Rosa was the designated target – defies the logic of the situation. Would we place hospitals in only one area of the county?

The panel was able for the most part to answer factually and straightforwardly the questions and concerns directed their way. Myths and misunderstandings about dispensaries were fielded and answered by the panelists citing fact based data in response to opponents fears and concerns, which should have but often did not assuage the palpable negativity of many in the audience. It was clear after an hour and a half of offense and defense that many La Manchans came with minds made up, and they weren’t going to let facts and reason get in the way.


It was also abundantly clear to this observer that the medical marijuana dispensary folks weren’t going to win any hearts and minds among opponents, but is that necessary? Yes and no. If they adhere to the county’s stringent rules and regulations governing an enterprise of this nature then their business application should pass muster. But the kicker is that the Board of Supervisors gets to vote on this matter, and that hurdle is the wild card. The Sonoma Valley District Supervisor, Valerie Brown, commissioned this town hall meeting, and if I remember correctly asked Bolling to moderate, but oddly she did not attend. No doubt she got a report by staff, but still it begs the question - why was she absent in light of the public event being one she herself inculcated.

In light of full disclosure I fully support marijuana for medical purposes, and the establishment of dispensaries wherever they adhere to county regulations. I also fully support the use of marijuana in general and its being decriminalized and government regulated the same as the booze industry. Government has no business legislating the use of intoxicants other than regulating it regarding public safety concerns and legal business practices.

For factual information and data about medical marijuana and dispensaries here are some sources:
http://www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org / 510-251-1856
Organic Cannabis Foundation, Member Handbook – Rules & Regulations of the Dispensary, http://www.organicann.com / cannaorganic@yahoo.com
SAMM.net – Sonoma County Alliance for Medical marijuana
NORML.org
Common Sense for Drug Policy, 703-354-9050, info@csdp.org, http://www.csdp.org