SLO Considers Dispensary Permit in Templeton

Dear Medical Marijuana Supporter,

Next Monday, October 29th, the San Luis Obispo County Planning
Commission will be voting on whether or not to approve a Conditional
Use Permit to allow for the establishment of a Medical Marijuana
Dispensary at 3850 Ramada Dr. in Templeton.

This is a major step in the right direction towards securing safe and
legal access to medical marijuana in SLO County.

Please take a few minutes to contact the Planning Commission to
politely urge them to support the proposed medical marijuana
dispensary the right to safe access in SLO County.

You can use this online form:
http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/planning/contact/PlanningContactUs.htm
or call: (805) 781-5600 (8am-5pm)

It's also very important that we fill the board chambers with
patients and advocates backing the dispensary. Please attend Monday's
meeting to show your support for safe, legal and hassle-free access
to medical marijuana. Feel free to contact me for meeting details.

Thank you for your support of this important adecision. Once
implemented, not only will it allow the North County Resource Center
to provide safe access to medicine in our county, it will also reduce
patients risk and further strengthen California's decade-old medical
marijuana law.

Sincerely,
Austen Connella
North County Resource Center
phone: (805) 434-2773
e-mail: northcountyresourcecenter [at] yahoo.com

(SEE DETAILS BELOW)

SLO Board Meeting Time and Location:

Monday, October 29th - 1:30pm
(Will be heard sometime after lunch recess)

County Government Center
1055 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Map: http://tinyurl.com/j5san

Staff Report:
http://slocounty.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=3&event_id=35&meta_id=68607

*This is a professional meeting; please dress in business or
business/casual attire.

Feel free to use these talking points when addressing your county
commissioner on this issue:

* Currently there are no medical marijuana dispensaries in San Luis
Obispo County. The county has a legal responsibility to the State of
California to "implement a plan to provide for the safe and
affordable distribution of marijuana to all patients in medical need
of marijuana." It is a requirement of Senate Bill 420, codified as HS
11362.7 in January 2004.

* The county has already established

* Voters' support of safe and legal access to medical marijuana has
only grown stronger since the passage of the Compassionate Use Act
(Prop. 215) in 1996. According to an independent field poll conducted
in 2004, 74% of Californians support the implementation of our
state's medical marijuana laws.

* Medical cannabis dispensaries can be a positive part of our
community. When properly permitted, regulated and operated,
dispensing collectives will prevent lawful patients from unnecessary
and potentially harmful entanglements with illicit markets or law
enforcement.

* There is no evidence that a well-run dispensing collective leads
to crime. It is unfair to stigmatize legal patients by treating their
collective like a criminal or nuisance activity.

* Research confirms that support services are effective for
patients with a variety of cancers and other terminal illnesses.
Participants active in support services are less anxious and
depressed, make better use of their time and are more likely to
return to work than patients who receive only standardized care. The
Commission should be supporting efforts to improve the health,
welfare and quality of life of patients in our community.