Oakland to increase tax

at $1.20 per $1,000 in gross receipts.

The lower of the proposed increases, up to $12 per $1,000, is already
a ten times increase. The increase suggested as acceptable by Mr. Lee,
up to $24 per $1,000, is a twenty times increase. Harborside, like
Blue Sky, will absorb any increase and not pass it on to patients.

But Oakland's other two MCDs, which are smaller, have expressed
concern about the larger possible increase. Patients might want to
contact the council members about unfairly burdening the MCDs with
such a massive 20X increase in the local tax rate--especially after
the recent 1% increase in sales tax,and given that the MCDs have
already offered to cooperate in a 10X increase. Tell the council that
$12 is enough.

Here are their email addresses:

lreid@oaklandnet.com, nnadel@oaklandnet.com, dbrooks@oaklandnet.com, Rkaplan@oaklandnet.com
, jquan@oaklandnet.com, PKernighan@oaklandnet.com, jbrunner@oaklandnet.com
, idelafuente@oaklandnet.com

EUREKA PUTS OFF MEDICAL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE

Eureka will not be following in Arcata's medical marijuana footsteps
anytime soon.

The Eureka City County Tuesday night voted three to one not to look
into the possibility of creating a medical marijuana dispensary ordinance.

In the absence of Councilman Jones, Mayor Virginia Bass was the
deciding vote against the measure, saying that the issue needed to be
discussed at a later time.

Bass's comments about the abuse of medical marijuana and the need to
address the issue of illegal grow houses echoed those of
Councilmembers Frank Jager and Jeff Leonard.

"I would say that the first thing we need to work on is these grow
houses and work on it right away, and put a stop to that before we
have a discussion about medical marijuana," Jager said.

Councilwoman Linda Atkins, who initiated the discussion about the
ordinance, said the matter is a compassion issue as well as a fiscal
issue. She said she just wanted to direct staff to look into the
possibility of coming up with a responsible form of regulation.

"The only way we're going to stop people from growing marijuana in
houses illegally is to enforce a code," she said.

Representatives from established medical marijuana cooperatives in
Arcata came forward to offer their assistance in creating an ordinance.

The council did approve of a motion by Councilman Larry Glass to
expand the duties of an already existing task force to look at how to
address the problem of grow houses in residential areas, separate
from regulating medical marijuana.

The council also unanimously supported the planning commission's
decision to deny the proposal for a general plan amendment of
property on Dolbeer Street.

Applicant John Vitale, who had applied to have the zone changed to be
appropriate for medical services, asked the council to allow him to
meet with the residents and create mitigation measures, but the
council felt the concerns of residents in the area were valid.

Nearly a dozen residents spoke out against the zoning change, citing
traffic concerns. Many questioned the necessity of having additional
property for medical services while there is presently other property
already zoned as such that is unused.

The council encouraged Vitale to come up with concrete mitigation
methods if he chooses to propose the amendment again.

In other matters, the council approved a Safe Route to Schools grant
application, accepted $1 million in stimulus funding for street
improvements and approved the designation of a lot on California and
15th streets as a community garden and orchard while authorizing
staff to apply for a grant and also communicate with the groups that
also occupy the lot.

Finally, a little honesty about America's inept war on drugs

Through pot legalization, we can bring the marijuana trade into the safety of the regulated economy, consequently eliminating the black market the drug cartels rely on. We can do so without fearing any more negative consequences than we already tolerate in our keg-party culture.


By David Sirota
Syndicated Columnist



Finally, a little honesty.

Finally, after America has frittered away billions of taxpayer dollars arming Latin American death squads, airdropping toxic herbicide on equatorial farmland, and incarcerating more of its own citizens on nonviolent drug charges than any other industrialized nation, two political leaders last week tried to begin taming the most wildly out of control beast in the government zoo: federal narcotics policy.

It started with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stating an embarrassingly obvious truth that politicians hardly ever discuss. In a speech about rising violence in Mexico, she said, "Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade," and then added that "we have co-responsibility" for the cartel-driven carnage plaguing our southern border.

She's right, of course. For all the Rambo-ish talk about waging a "War on Drugs" that interdicts the supply of narcotics, we have not diminished demand — specifically, demand for marijuana that cartels base their business on.

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Americans spend about $9 billion a year on Mexican pot.

Add that to the roughly $36 billion worth of domestically produced weed, and cannabis has become one of the continent's biggest cash crops. As any mob movie illustrates, mixing such "insatiable" demand for a product with statutes outlawing said product guarantees the emergence of a violent black market — in this case, one in which Mexican drug cartels reap 62 percent of their profits from U.S. marijuana sales.

That last stat, provided by the White House drug czar, is the silver lining. Every American concerned about Mexico's security problems should be thankful that the cartels are so dependent on marijuana, and not a genuinely hazardous substance like heroin. Why? Because that means through pot legalization, we can bring the marijuana trade out of the shadows and into the safety of the regulated economy, consequently eliminating the black market the cartels rely on. And here's the best part: We can do so without fearing any more negative consequences than we already tolerate in our keg-party culture.

Though President Obama childishly laughed at a question about legalization during his recent town-hall meeting, his government implicitly admits that marijuana is safer than light beer. Indeed, as federal agencies acknowledge alcohol's key role in deadly illnesses and domestic violence, their latest anti-pot fear mongering is an ad campaign insisting — I kid you not — that marijuana is dangerous because it makes people zone out on their couches and diminishes video gaming skills.

(This is your government on drugs: Cirrhosis and angry tank-topped lushes beating their wives are more acceptable risks than stoners sitting in their basements ineptly playing Halo ... any questions?).

Despite this idiocy, despite polls showing most Americans support some form of legalization, and despite such legalization promising to generate billions of dollars in tax revenue, Clinton only acknowledged the uncomfortable reality about demand. That's certainly no small step, but she did not address drug-policy reform. Confronting that taboo subject was left to Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.

Last week, this first-term lawmaker proposed creating a federal commission to examine potential changes to the prison system, including a relaxation of marijuana statutes.

Webb hails from a conservative-leaning swing state whose criminal-justice laws are among the nation's most draconian, so there's about as much personal political upside for him in this fight as there is for Clinton — that is to say, almost none. That isn't stopping him, though.

"The elephant in the bedroom in many discussions on the criminal-justice system is the sharp increase in drug incarceration," he said in a speech, later telling the Huffington Post that pot legalization "should be on the table."

Finally, a little honesty — and now, maybe, some action.

David Sirota is a fellow at the Campaign for America's Future. Find his blog at OpenLeft.com or e-mail him at ds@davidsirota.com


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008990031_opina06sirota.html

UCSC contacts parents in attempt to curb infamous pot smoking festival

By GENEVIEVE BOOKWALTER - Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted: 04/06/2009 07:19:42 PM PDT

SANTA CRUZ - Campus leaders are reaching out to parents of first-year
students in an effort to curb the annual unsanctioned April 20 "4/20"
marijuana festival this year.

According to a recently-sent e-mail from Felicia McGinty, vice-chancellor of
student affairs, delivered to inboxes of UC Santa Cruz freshman parents, "I
encourage you to talk with your student about his or her plans for 4/20. Ask
direct questions about the choices they make and express your expectations
regarding marijuana, alcohol or other drug use. Although students may not
initiate discussion on this topic, your opinions and expectations can
influence their behavior."

The letter also details plans to ban overnight guests on campus from Friday,
April 18 through Monday, April 20 - the day that the impromptu event
annually attracts thousands to Porter Meadow at 4:20 p.m. to eat, inhale or
otherwise consume copious amounts of cannabis. In past years, a gray haze
quickly formed over the meadow as thousands of revelers lit up and continued
smoking throughout the late afternoon. While many of those participating are
UCSC students, many, campus leaders have said, are not.

To further discourage the event, the letter said, UCSC will limit bus
service to campus, tow illegally parked cars and further discourage those
not affiliated with the university from showing up. Last year, neither
parking tickets nor barricades across campus entrances could stop those who
wanted to join the celebration.

In her e-mail, McGinty wrote: "While similar '4/20 celebrations' occur
simultaneously on college campuses across the United States, over the past
four years the event here at UCSC has grown in numbers, with many of the
participants being visitors with no investment in our UCSC community. The
growth in scale of this activity has become a concern for both the
University and surrounding community."

Parents wanting more information can e-mail studentaffairs@ucsc.edu.

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_12085094

See e-mail to parents:

Memo sent to parents of UC Santa Cruz students regarding 4/20

Posted: 04/06/2009 03:23:40 PM PDT

The following note was sent to parents of UC Santa Cruz students, regarding
4/20. Last year on April 20, thousands of students gathered on campus and
smoked marijuana as part of an annual tradition for marijuana smokers and
advocates around the world. The university is taking steps to "maintain the
safety of our students and ensure continuity of instruction and services."

Dear Parents and Guardians of First Year Students,

UCSC is committed to providing a safe, healthy living and learning
environment in which your student can thrive while earning a world class
education. To that end, I write to you regarding a non-University sanctioned
event which, although actively discouraged by University officials,
nevertheless continues to occur on our campus. Often referred to as
"Four-Twenty" or "4/20," participants come together, more or less
spontaneously, on April 20 at 4:20 pm for the purpose of smoking marijuana
and to a lesser extent, using other illegal substances. While similar "4/20
celebrations" occur simultaneously on college campuses across the United
States, over the past four years the event here at UCSC has grown in
numbers, with many of the participants being visitors with no investment in
our UCSC community. The growth in scale of this activity has become a
concern for both the University and surrounding community.

In an effort to maintain the safety of our students and ensure continuity of
instruction and services, we continue to institute measures designed to
strongly discourage students and others from participating in this 4/20
event. Among other efforts, a "no guest" policy in on-campus residence halls
has been instituted per contractual agreements. The "no overnight guest"
policy begins on Friday, April 18, 8:00 p.m. and concludes on Monday, April
20, 2009. To ensure safety, additional measures will be taken to limit
access to campus for non-affiliates. Likewise, for a limited time bus
transportation will be curtailed, access to campus will be limited and
illegally parked cars will be towed.

UCSC continues to educate students about the risks of alcohol and drug use,
provide alternative activities, and actively enforce University policies.
Yet, student culture is largely shaped by the individual choices of the
community members. We are concerned about the public use of marijuana and
other illegal drugs on 4/20, as such activities can have both personal and
community consequences. The use of illegal substances is a violation of the
Student Code of Conduct and can result in judicial sanctions. I encourage
you to talk with your student about his or her plans for 4/20. Ask direct
questions about the choices they make and express your expectations
regarding marijuana, alcohol or other drug use. Although students may not
initiate discussion on this topic, your opinions and expectations can
influence their behavior. Research shows that students are influenced by
on-going family discourse regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs.

The first year of college is filled with many choices, changes and
challenges for students. With your support and our collective partnership,
our students can achieve academic and personal success here at UCSC. Thank
you in advance for your support and continued partnership. Please feel free
to contact me if you have questions or concerns. I can be reached at
studentaffairs@ucsc.edu.

Felicia E. McGinty, Ed.D.

Vice Chancellor Student Affairs

San Mateo council passes medical marijuana ordinance

By Jessica Bernstein-Wax

DAILY News STAFF WRITER
Posted: 04/06/2009 11:43:35 PM PDT


The San Mateo City Council on Monday unanimously approved adding an ordinance that regulates the cultivation and storage of medical marijuana to its municipal code.

Following city procedure, the law will go into effect in 30 days after the council voted 4-0 in its favor. Council Member Fred Hansson was absent Monday but voted for the measure with his colleagues at the council's last meeting.

Under the ordinance, collectives of patients and their caregivers who grow and store medical pot must register with the city and obtain a license from the police department, with all members providing their names, addresses and phone numbers. Licensed collectives must be located only in the city's manufacturing and commercial zones at least 500 feet from schools, recreation and youth centers.

The ordinance states that collective members must grow marijuana indoors and provide adequate security. San Mateo residents who grow marijuana at home for their own use, or for other people living at the house, are not subject to these rules.

Last month, Americans for Safe Access spokesman Kris Hermes criticized the ordinance for requiring registration, which he said could imperil patients.

However, some patients involved in collectives have said they prefer to grow pot in cities with clear rules.

In 1996, Californians passed an initiative allowing seriously ill people to grow and use marijuana with a doctor's recommendation. Under the measure, the patients' caregivers could also cultivate and possess the substance.

A 2004 California Senate bill established a voluntary registration program with identification cards for patients and caregivers.

E-mail Jessica Bernstein-Wax at jbernstein@dailynewsgroup.com.


http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12087862?nclick_check=1

Medical Marijuana Dispensary Shut Down Before it Opens

Medical Marijuana Dispensary Shut Down Before it Opens

Featured Video: Local Marijuana Dispensary Shut Down (2:42)
http://www.myfox11.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=3625845&h1=Local%20Marijuana%20Dispensary%20Shut%20Down&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=162567&LaunchPageAdTag=News&activePane=info&rnd=1107991

4/6/09

ORCUTT - A medical marijuana co-op in Orcutt is closing up shop before it
ever had a chance to open it's doors. The owner of "Wishing you Wellness" is
unable to meet requests made by Santa Barbara County. So he has decided to
terminate his lease and close shop.

KCOY CBS 12 got an exclusive look inside the shop, and talked to the owner.
He says he checked with South County leaders, and met with the Santa Barbara
County Sheriff's Department.

He believes he was within zoning codes. Paul Prather wrote up a lease under
the agreement that the owner of WYW meet proper County requirements. Before
the shop could open, several people in the community complained.

The County told the owner of WYW he would need to pay $1,700, and go through
a 3 to 6 month approval process. In the meantime he could not do business.

Rather than go through the red tape, the owner of WYW and his landlord
agreed to terminate the lease. There are several similar businesses
operating in South Santa Barbara County. The owner of WYW says patients in
North County were looking forward to having a place they could get medicinal
marijuana closer to home.

"All they're doing is making sick patients drive 140 miles round trip to get
the same medication that they could have gotten right here."

http://www.myfox11.com/global/story.asp?s=10140111

--

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