Marina – The Marina City Council conducted a discussion about cannabis issues Wednesday and came away taking a small step forward in considering lifting the ban on marijuana dispensaries and cultivation.
We can move ahead behind Del Rey Oaks, Salinas and Monterey County, Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado said. The city is looking at a $2 million gap that an estimated $200,000 in medical marijuana revenue could help.
But members of the council and some of those who spoke during the public comment period want to take a slower approach to the possibility of the city, which has banned medical cannabis and cultivation ventures, finally allowing not only a brick-and-mortar dispensary but a cultivation business or two as well.
And with the passage of Proposition 64 last November, which legalized the recreational use of marijuana, many cities, including Marina, will have to navigate how to restrict its use or not, including a temporary ban to allow time to see how larger cities handle the issue a position the city favors.
Early in the discussion, Councilman David Brown said he did not want to take away what most Californians wanted with the legalization of recreational marijuana.
But for the rest of the meeting the council steered back to only considering whether or not to move forward on allowing medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation operations.
Gail Morton, Marina councilwoman, said she needed more information on what it will cost in terms of increased policing and other aspects of having a cannabis business in the city.
I dont think were behind the curve with medical marijuana said Councilman Frank OConnell, who wants the City Council to communicate with other cities to find out how they have been affected by medical marijuana dispensaries in their jurisdictions. and I dont agree with Councilman Brown that well be taking recreational users vote away by restricting recreational marijuana businesses.
OConnell added that he was recently in Colorado and thinks peoples behavior there was different because of legalized marijuana they were more disruptive.
But in regard to dispensaries and production of medical pot, Mayor Delgado pointed out that with the Del Rey Oaks dispensary and Salinas marijuana-edibles production plant both approaching the two-year mark and the fact that Monterey County has multiple cannabusiness licenses available, there is ample documentation and expertise to help Marina foster its first marijuana-related businesses.
During the comments period of the meeting, owners of Monterey Bay Alternative Medicine in Del Rey Oaks, Lonna Lewis-Blodgett and Robert Blodgett, advocated for the continued education of councilmembers and the citizenry of Marina about cannabis, to move forward in the right way, said Lewis-Blodgett. Its a benefit to the community and to patients.
The Blodgetts offered to give tours and answer questions about their successful business to the Marina council.
Councilwoman Nancy Amadeo, joining the meeting via phone from out of state, said, I have no problem with medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, but wanted to keep the topic of recreational marijuana use out of the equation.
Remarks during public commentary were mostly in support of moving the process forward, though some cautioned that not enough information was available for dissemination.
Im encouraged by the mayors and Councilman Browns remarks about marijuana, said Kevin Saunders, medicinal marijuana advocate. We came to this dance with medical marijuana, we should leave with medical marijuana.
One woman asked, Is it all about money? Are we looking at results from other cities? Whats the hurry?
Another spoke of replacing her opioid pain medication with medical marijuana and said it is better for her pain management and functionality. Get going on this!
In the end, the mayors attempt to move forward with considering one to two dispensaries, one to two cultivation businesses, an excise tax, regulation of outdoor cultivation for private use and bimonthly updates, was substituted with a motion to reconvene in two months after gathering more information about the effects of medical marijuana dispensaries in other cities which passed on a 4-1 vote with the mayor dissenting.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Marina May Consider Lifting Ban On Medical Marijuana Businesses
Author: James Herrera
Contact: 831-372-3311
Photo Credit: David Royal
Website: Monterey Herald
