cannabisnews.com: Competing Cannabis Clubs





Competing Cannabis Clubs
Posted by CN Staff on October 28, 2003 at 13:14:56 PT
By Dale Gieringer
Source: Oakland Tribune 
Medical Marijuana has recently become a mainstream issue. With the U.S. Supreme Court allowing to stand the 9th Circuit's decision permitting doctors to recommend cannabis, plus Gov. Davis' approval of a bill establishing statewide Proposition 215 enforcement standards, it is timely that the Oakland City Council will be considering regulations regarding the city's cannabis clubs at tonight's meeting of the Public Safety Committee.
Oakland currently boasts over a half dozen medical cannabis cafes, clubs and dispensaries, concentrated mostly around the 19th Street BART station. These establishments are successfully serving the medical needs of nearly 3,000 residents of Oakland, as well as many other seriously ill patients from Northern California who live in regions lacking in access to medical cannabis. Cannabis businesses have contributed to the development of a unique, lively and interesting neighborhood in downtown Oakland. According to Mario Pacetti, owner of the Fat Cat Cafe, cannabis-based businesses have planted flowers on Broadway and are cleaning up an area nobody really cared about until now. Recently, however, the proliferation of new clubs has led to concerns about maintaining proper standards of business practice. To this end, the city's Medical Cannabis Working Group has proposed a package of regulations aimed at assuring security, patient verification, insurance, access for the handicapped and other standards. By and large, these proposals represent a sensible solution to the few minor problems that have arisen to date. The recently formed Uptown Merchants Association, which includes several medical cannabis dispensaries, supports the principle of regulation and is cooperating with the working group. Kenny Mostern, UMA spokesperson and Uptown-area business owner, believes the dispensaries are a boon to commerce. The group wants to make sure that sensible regulations and licensing fees are written so the city can profit from the clubs. Less sensibly, City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente has proposed that all clubs be closed except for a single, official dispensary. Such a move would seriously jeopardize patients' interests. Monopolies always mean higher prices, poorer service, fewer choices and less competition. They are also an invitation to political favoritism and corruption. Most significantly, a single, designated dispensary would be highly vulnerable to a federal shutdown, as happened to the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative in 1998, when it was deputized to be the city's lone provider. The present system of competing, private clubs is serving Oakland well. In addition to providing safe and affordable access to medicine, it has revitalized a formerly neglected neighborhood of the city, attracting visitors and business to the community. Oakland's medical cannabis businesses now provide gainful employment to over 150 employees. Police are likewise supportive in view of the fact that crime hasn't been a problem. Many like the concentration of clubs downtown, since it provides a responsible center for marijuana distribution that they can keep their eyes on. The City Council would be well advised to build on the strengths of the present system of private, competing clubs by enacting sensible regulations for good business practice. What it should not do is crimp this unique, successful and valuable asset to the community by arbitrarily limiting the number of clubs.Dale Gieringer of Berkeley is a founding board member of the Oakland Civil Liberties Alliance and one of the original organizers for the Prop. 215 campaign.Source: Oakland Tribune (CA)Author: Dale GieringerPublished:  Tuesday, October 28, 2003 Copyright: 2003 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: triblet angnewspapers.com Website: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:OCBChttp://www.rxcbc.org/California NORMLhttp://www.canorml.org/Medical Pot Has Council in Dithershttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17424.shtmlCommittee To Study Oaksterdam Idea http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17388.shtmlDe La Fuente Declares War Against Oaksterdam http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17363.shtml 
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Comment #4 posted by The GCW on October 29, 2003 at 03:13:29 PT
About Kucinich
Ugly ducklingThe candidacy of Denis Kucinich for president is being taken seriously by the "special interests" who control Congress with their funding. Kucinich is at once, ignored, trivialized and ridiculed by the special-interest- controlled lackeys of the media and politicians of both parties.Since money wins elections, his albatross is that he accepts no money from special interests - referred to by President Eisenhower as the "military, industrial congressional complex." Ross Perot was ridiculed into obscurity in '92 when he accurately predicted the sucking sounds of jobs lost by NAFTA. Special interests thrive on war, NAFTA and globalization - all hallmarks of the present administration in direct contrast to the platform of Congressman Kucinich, who advocates peace (he voted against the war), a reasonable military structure, a repeal of NAFTA, universal health care and infrastructure development in the U.S.Kucinich may lack the glamour of many of the other candidates, but if we voters compare all the platforms and vote with our conscience rather than what the polls say, then the ugly duckling might become a swan on Election Day. - Bill Stephen, Orange Beach, Ala.http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/news/102903/Opinion/ST003.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by ekim on October 28, 2003 at 21:18:04 PT
ej can you get the letter to Dennis in Oakland
ej please get letter to Dennis in Sunnyvale 
Sunday, November 2, 2003 http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Oakland, California Congresswoman Barbara Lee presents "Bring it to the Bay": National Leadership 2004 Open Forum with Dennis Kucinich - free to public Taylor Memorial Church, 1188 12th St. Oakland 510-663-1207 campaign leeforcongress.org5-8 pm East Bay for Kucinich presents: Progressives Gala Fundraiser with Guests of Honor Barbara Lee and Danny Glover Zazoo Restaurant, Jack London Square For reservations or info: 415-927-2004 x 75 or ca.events kucinich.us Contact:Lora O'ConnorTuesday, November 4, 20037:00 p.m. Boston, Mass. Rock the Vote Presidential Town Meeting Faneuil Hall Saturday, November 8, 20033:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.Sunnyvale, California Rally with talks by: REP. DENNIS J. KUCINICH "Taking Back Our Democracy" & Bestselling Author John Robbins   Sunnyvale Four Points Sheraton 1250 Lakeside Drive in Sunnyvale Take 101 to Lawrence (south) to first left (onto Oakmead) to first left (onto Lakeside) Doors open at 1pm - See Videos of Rep. Kucinich, Get Information about Volunteering, Network with Volunteers and Organizers from All Over Northern California Info: 1-650-813-1862. To volunteer: 1-408-296-0112 San Mateo County Campaign: http://kucinich.cjb.net 
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Comment #2 posted by The GCW on October 28, 2003 at 19:18:45 PT
a link from: http://medicalgrower.com 
Partial List of Organizations With Favorable Positions on Medical Marijuanahttp://medicalgrower.com/pro-org-list.htmExposing mainstreamness. 
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Comment #1 posted by Virgil on October 28, 2003 at 19:17:46 PT
Terry Parker's letter
Terry Parker is the epileptic that brought the Judge Pitt decision and brought us and Canada Terry Parker Day of August 1, 2001 when cannabis prohibition in Canada died. His case is still alive and it is important because it says if the doctors are advised not to support MMJ then the system is flawed by its lack of access. The legislation of the Ontario Supreme Court that came on October 7th shows how strange the cannabis story really is. I am with Richard Cowan in saying that the prohibition laws will be struck down by the Canadian Supreme Court. The Pitt decision also puts out the issue of right to life as opposed to the freedom issues of the other cases.Anyway, John Turmel has the following letter written by Terry Parker- http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MedPot/message/990From: Terry Parker Jr.
Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 12:10:34
To: Prime Minister/Premier ministre
Subject: Saving livesTerry Parker Jr.
2209-55 Triller Ave.
Toronto, Ont. M6R-2H6
416-533-7756Dear Mr. Chretian,It saddens when we look at www
epilepsy.ca under Myths & Misconceptions, that each and every year,2400-4600 people die, due to epilepsy. It is more than evident, that espite all the experimental brain surgeries, and pharmaceuticals, they have had no effect on seizure control, with such a high epileptic fatality rate.Being one who suffer epilepsy, I should have been dead long time ago. Fortunately, I have discovered the anti-convulsant potential of marijauna, and now experiencing significant seizure control, with only one seizure
since Judge Patrick Sheppard's Dec. 10, 1997 marijuana constitutional decision.Presently Jean, despite this ruling, I am prone to
criminal arrest, since my doctor, and all doctors, have been ordered by the Ontario Medical Association and the Canadian Medical Protective Association, not to fill out the Medical Marijuana Access Regulations (MMAR)I don't find it fair that people are dying as a result
of marijuana prohibition.I don't find it fair, that your government sanctifies
unauthorized human experimentation with epileptic subjects, with no regard of the adverse effects.I don't find it fair, that your government continues
to withhold the # 1 cure for epilepsy, being marijuana.What would be fair, is for your government to act upon the Senate's committee's reccommendation to legalize marijuana.
Prohibition is too risky, for our doctors, and those
who require marijuana for medical necessity.Jean, the time is right. Be a nice guy, and lets
save some lives.The world will love ya, and we can all live free from epilepsy, MS, CP, glaucoma, cancer,migraine headache, depression, suicidal tendacies, ect.Just think Jean, legalize marijuana, and you're saving approx. 3000 lives a year!What is wrong with that?Let's do it man.I thought you said you love me.Yours,
Terry Parker Jr.
Marijuana Advocate[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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