Final Vote on New Medical Marijuana Dispensary Ban

Item #20, first item on the (rare) evening City Council agenda is the Planning Department's freeze-out of all new medical marijuana dispensaries, the allowing of growhouses to the two existing clubs, and the contraction of allowable space for future medical marijuana dispensarwies, if they ever change their laws again.

This is a Rotkin Hypocrisy Special in line with the Reefer Madness paranoia that has impacted other cities. The fearmongers claim medical marijuana is an especially dangerous item. Unlike far more dangerous drugs hawked in pharmacies and clinics, or recreational intoxicants like alcohol and tobacco being pushed in bars and 7-11's, we need to severely limit the number of shops, stop encouraging tourists to come and buy, and ignore the unmet needs of locals.

You thought Santa Cruz City Council was liberal in its treatment of marijuana and that local groups like WAMM, Greenway, and Limekiln were enlightened advocates? Think again. None of them opposed this Ban, which creates a monopoly for the existing clubs.

It's the only item on the evening agenda after Oral Communications (which typically lasts twenty minutes). Lest you think this is a "liberal" concession by Mayor Rotkin, be advised that any significant alterations of law changes--which require two votes at Council happen typically at the first reading (which Rotkin made sure was in the afternoon two weeks ago, limiting public attendance).

Listen to some radio commentary on the issue and a replay of some of the last Council's "discussion" of the issue at http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb100117.mp3

Marijuana busts in the City of Santa Cruz have risen and so has the boldness of Prohibition advocates masquerading as "regulators".

Roger Mentch's Hemporium in the County faces renewed harassment: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/03/17/18641665.php .

Call the City Council at 420-5020 to denounce this nonsense.
Or e-mail in your

Better still, denounce and file complaints about every marijuana bust you observe or hear about in the City limits, specifically writing up each officer involved. It's supposed to be the lowest enforcement priority, according to the crippled Measure K, passed in 2006 over the opposition of Rotkin's council.

Earlier story at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/03/09/18640441.phpq