<\/p>\n
Those who initially celebrated the Prop 64 victory are now facing a stark reality. The state may allow the establishment of legalized recreational and medical dispensaries; however, few local governments are choosing to take advantage of the state\u2019s new permissive rules<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And it\u2019s not that they’re against cannabis access. Californian support for MMJ is now indisputably approved by the majority. Weed’s fine–just not anywhere near their own real estate.\u00a0This collective group of people now bears the nickname NIMBY’s<\/strong>, and they’ve made legalization all but a moot point in the vast majority of California. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What does NIMBY stand for?\u00a0<\/span>Not.\u00a0<\/span>In.\u00a0<\/span>My.\u00a0<\/span>Back.\u00a0<\/span>Yard.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [Click any of the section titles below to jump there]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The problem with legalizing something socially sensitive? It has to be legal everywhere to work. Yet Prop 64 only protects those willing to grow their own in compliance with local law. A local jurisdiction is otherwise completely within its right to ban all commercial activity–including outdoor cultivation<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n To complicate matters, many local governments require enormous and expensive regulations be met before anyone can grow their own supply. In some areas like Yuba county, <\/span>requirements<\/span> are so onerous it was estimated a person would have to purchase over $50,000<\/strong> worth of building and equipment just to grow their legally allowed six plants<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Perhaps consumers could just get cannabis from areas where it’s legal; those places will benefit even more from their newfound revenue source. However, in many areas they’ll need to drive 200 miles or more to obtain it legally.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This simply won\u2019t be feasible, especially since consumers are only allowed to carry up to an ounce of recreational weed at a time<\/strong>. If medical cannabis isn’t also available, recreational consumers will likely just turn back to the black market–where they were getting it before Prop 64.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Most local governments are feeling enormous pressure from political and business-related groups like the League of Cities. These politicians<\/a> feel it’d be too risky to vote in favor of reasonable regulations when an outright ban is allowed.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some activists also speculate that local bans will allow local police to continue profiting from their current asset forfeiture activities while fulfilling their contracts for required prisoner populations in corporate prisons. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Those who campaigned for Prop 64 stated that Sec. 6 took care of that problem, <\/span>saying<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Q: \u201cWhat does P64 do to stop Asset Seizures for businesses and persons? What specific section prohibits asset forfeiture?\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n A: \u201cProp 64 does that in Section 6, Regulation and Safety, codified as Business and Professions code \u00a7 26037.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n However, a\u00a0<\/span>closer look<\/span><\/a> at Section 6 reveals that only those who’re acting legally under state and local law are protected. There’s nothing to prevent asset forfeiture if the business is operating in a gray area or in opposition to a local ban. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It makes interesting food for thought. Whether enforcement will continue in this manner remains to be seen, but you can always attend the California District Attorney\u2019s Association\u2019s <\/span>Annual Asset Forfeiture Course<\/span><\/a> to find out more about upcoming changes to forfeiture tactics. Prop 64 looks to be a big topic of discussion at next year\u2019s conference in Monterey. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whatever their reasoning, many of the bans are based on what some would call a very questionable thought process. Below are just a few examples of the stated logic behind these local bans. More examples will be addressed in future articles in this series.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In this case, it was the voters who made the decision to ban commercial cannabis sales after placing enough signatures to force the issue. The initiative\u2019s loss came after fierce opposition from the city council itself. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This came as a surprise to many, since <\/span>Mayor Steven Dicterow<\/span> seemed to take a favorable stance on the issue. Yet, he\u00a0<\/span>voted unanimously<\/span><\/a> with the council on April 12th to \u201cdirect staff to return to the City Council by May 10th with an analysis and recommendations regarding a possible competing initiative.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dicterow was later forced to <\/span>recuse<\/span> himself from subsequent council votes due to conflict of interest. Apparently, his business partner was attempting to purchase a property that might qualify as a dispensary–should the city choose to lift their ban. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n When explaining his reasoning for the recusal, Dicterow <\/span>said<\/span><\/a>: <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n “<\/span>I didn\u2019t want anyone to perceive that I would be making a vote on this issue because I was hoping that a property I may own in the future may cause me to be the future landlord for a medical marijuana dispensary.<\/span><\/i>” <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n Dicterow then explained he’d been approached by one of Congressman Dana Rohrabacher\u2019s consultants to run a pro-medical marijuana ballot initiative, an offer which he said he rejected. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Shortly thereafter, the council voted to scrap the competing initiative altogether and oppose the voters\u2019 initiative instead. After a slew of alarmist anti-dispensary propaganda and disturbing accusations by both sides, the voters decided that commercial cannabis was all well and good, just \u201c<\/span>not in their backyards<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n While Laguna Woods was the first city in Orange County to allow cannabis dispensaries, the council has now taken a 180 degree turn in their policy, opting to prohibit dispensaries within city limits. City Attorney David Cosgrove cited the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, <\/span>saying<\/span><\/a>\u00a0cities that allow dispensaries tend to have increased crime rates.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Of course, one must consider whether this is a causal relationship. Such a vague statement fails to take into account the cause or even type of pre-existing crime statistics in an area that chooses to legalize it.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It’s entirely possible that those areas with higher crime rates due to economic depression are more likely to consider the tax benefits of legal dispensaries<\/a>. Or, these areas may be considering the fact that ceasing marijuana prosecutions frees up law enforcement to handle dangerous and pressing criminal activity.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In general, statistics have shown that crime <\/span>decreases<\/span><\/a> with legalized cannabis activity. But it’s reasonable to assume law enforcement costs will increase if dispensaries open since they’ll need to be regulated. This fact was taken into consideration by allowing local control over taxes and fees as well.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Orange County has taken the preliminary steps to approve a ban, and once again a recent trip to Colorado was referenced by board member Lisa Bartlett in the decision making process.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her <\/span>reasoning<\/span><\/a> was identical to Chairman John Peschong’s complaints in San Luis Obispo. She noted the rising number of children hospital visits due to accidentally eating edibles while admitting that no one has ever died from a marijuana overdose.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n But again, the cognitive dissonance of the situation must be acknowledged. Dr. Genie E. Roosevelt, who was involved with an oft-cited study showing an increase in child exposure to cannabis, noted that parents are more willing to admit to possession in emergency situations, <\/span>saying:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn 2009, we didn\u2019t know what was wrong with these kids, and we did all kinds of work-ups, […] Now, after legalization, more people are saying, \u2018Oops, I left my brownie out, and my child ate it.\u2019 That\u2019s not great, but it\u2019s helping us to manage these patients.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n So, the possibility must be considered that some of the increase in reported cases is due to willingness of parents to discuss the possibility of exposure. And again, the number of overdose cases for cannabis measure in the hundreds, with not one single resulting death<\/strong>, while the number of overdose cases for opioid measures in the thousands, with <\/span>deaths<\/span><\/a> in the hundreds.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Supervisor Todd Spitzer noted that the Board was just following the trend of Orange County’s cities, since only two (Santa Ana and Costa Mesa) have decided to open their doors to the commercial cannabis industry.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n However, Supervisor Shawn Nelson said that the Board (and apparently the cities) were failing to acknowledge the will of the voters who approved of Prop 64 in every district in OC. He cast the only dissenting vote. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chairman John Peschong led his fellow county board members to consider banning edible manufacturing and dispensaries. His <\/span>recommendation<\/span><\/a> came as a shocking turnabout to the cannabis community since the county had been one of the most reasonable up to this point.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And what was the reason for this sudden change of heart? Peschong said that he learned about a child who consumed an edible in Colorado and went to the hospital for treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n These anecdotal stories can definitely have a powerful impact on our emotions, but it’s shocking how little actual evidence of real harm exists, and how outrageous the level of cognitive dissonance is surrounding the subject<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What Peschong fails to see is that he drives past pharmacies every day–pharmacies that provide the doorways for deadly opiates<\/a> that flood our streets. He also walks past liquor stores that sell the deadliest drug in our nation, killing\u00a0<\/span>88,000 people<\/span> a year.<\/span> Incidentally, this is almost as many deaths caused by tobacco, which is also legally sold at the same liquor stores Peschong walks past. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meanwhile, cannabis saves the lives of veterans<\/a> who suffer agonizing amputations, helps those on opiates to relieve their addictions, and saves the lives of cancer patients who would otherwise starve to death from nausea and vomiting.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yet we blow up at the headline: \u201c<\/span>Third Death in Colorado Linked to Edible Marijuana<\/span><\/a>.\u201d The sensationalism of this comment says it all. Of course, what the headline fails to mention is that the actual causes of these three deaths were suicide, murder, and that other factors.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What level of cognitive dissonance is required for a politician to allow his county to renew the business licenses of\u00a0<\/span>pharmacies,\u00a0<\/span>liquor stores, a<\/span>nd even\u00a0<\/span>fast food chains,\u00a0<\/span>then deny the sale of a product that’s never caused a single fatal overdose? <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yes, keep edibles away from kids; it’d be a terrifying experience that no child deserves. But what happens when adults turn back to opiates for pain management because they can no longer obtain a safer alternative? What happens when a child finds and eats opiates because they’re pretty and look like candy? <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\nWhat you'll learn in this post:<\/h2>\n
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Not in MY Backyard!<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What’s the Reasoning for These Bans?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"ban\"](\"https:\/\/getnugg.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Webp.net-resizeimage-53-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nLaguna Beach<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"ban\"](\"https:\/\/getnugg.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Webp.net-resizeimage-49.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLaguna Woods<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"ban\"](\"https:\/\/getnugg.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/laguna-woods.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOrange County<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"ban\"](\"https:\/\/getnugg.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Webp.net-resizeimage.png\")
<\/p>\nSan Luis Obispo<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"ban\"](\"https:\/\/getnugg.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Webp.net-resizeimage-51.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSanta Clara County<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"ban\"](\"https:\/\/getnugg.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Webp.net-resizeimage-52.jpg\")
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