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San Jose City Council Meeting to Ban Medical Marijuana May 13th
Activists State the Proposed Regulations Would Effectively Ban Collectives from the
City
San Jose, CA (May 9, 2014) - The San Jose City Council meets Tuesday, May13th
at 7pm to discuss, and likely approve, regulations that will create an effective ban on
medical marijuana dispensaries citywide. Collective operators, patients and concerned
citizens who wish to see proper medical marijuana regulations in San Jose should
attend this critical meeting.
The language is almost identical to what the Council approved in 2011, which triggered
an immediate referendum. If the council adopts these regulations there will be an instant
increase in black market activity, such as neighborhood grows and backyard butane
production, said Dave Hodges, founder of the All American Cannabis Club and Silicon
Valley Cannabis Coalition (SVCC) member. If this passes, medical patients will be
driven to the streets to access their medicine, which will directly impact the safety of
children, neighborhoods and the patients who need this medication.
Activists state the language would be an effective ban because the regulations:
Prevent the common practice of collectives from working together to provide the
diverse range of products patients need.
Ban all hash oils and most concentrated cannabis used for topicals, edibles and
vaporizers.
Force all cultivation and production to be done in one location per collective in
San Jose.
The proposed language does nothing to keep marijuana out of schools, or provide any
community feedback on collective operations. SVCC has proposed regulations that
would protect schools, allow collectives to operate like any other business, and create a
Cannabis Commission to address any needs or complaints from the community.
A commission would address many of the issues the Council has struggled with
for years and provide a way for everyone to move forward, said John Lee, SVCC
member & director of Control & Regulate San Jose, It seems one of the biggest
misunderstandings with this issue is the assumption that collective operators are drug
dealers. Drug dealers dont check for ID, doctors recommendations or ask for
regulations. Collective operators do both.
SVCC is asking City Council members to:
1) Not adopt staffs proposal at the May 13th council meeting and defer this issue
2) Direct staff to either:
a) Adopt the new SVCC language containing the Cannabis Commission, or
b) Direct staff to work with the SVCC to incorporate a Cannabis Commission, and
changes from the community
All San Jose citizens are encouraged to attend this meeting to voice their outrage on
regulations that force medical marijuana patients back to the black market, and criminal
activity to take place in our community and neighborhoods.
When:
Tuesday, May13th, 2014
5pm & 7pm
Where:
San Jose City Council Meeting
7pm at San Jose City Hall, Council Chambers
200 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA
Silicon Valley Cannabis Coalition Pre-Meeting
5pm at UFCW Hall
240 South Market St, San Jose CA
More information on the SVCC: www.SVcannabis.org
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