cannabisnews.com: Pot Club District Going Up in Smoke










  Pot Club District Going Up in Smoke

Posted by CN Staff on June 16, 2004 at 11:45:28 PT
By Laura Counts, Staff Writers 
Source: Oakland Tribune  

Oakland -- New city rules have effectively snuffed out "Oaksterdam" -- the uptown area's thriving mecca for thousands of medical marijuana patients. The triangle between 17th and 19th streets and Broadway and Telegraph Avenue was, until recently, home to five busy cannabis clubs. Under new regulations that took effect June 1, it appeared three of the dispensaries -- along with a fourth one on West Grand -- would continue to operate. 
But now just one Oaksterdam dispensary will keep its doors open. Two others a few blocks outside the district will also get permits. City Administrator Deborah Edgerly decided to enforce a provision in the new ordinance that prohibits pot clubs from operating within 1,000 feet of schools, churches, youth-oriented facilities and other dispensaries. She denied a permit for the area's largest club, Compassionate Caregivers on Telegraph, which had been told it would receive one. And she told one owner who operates two clubs that he must close the established Bulldog Cafe on Broadway and only run the newer SR71 on 17th Street between Webster and Franklin streets. California Advocate Relief Exchange at 1900 Telegraph -- next door to a charter elementary school that plans to relocate -- will hold the sole Oaksterdam permit. CARE is one of the oldest clubs in the district and operates on a holistic model, offering massage and free meals to needy clients, as well as marijuana. "CARE was the first one we gave a permit to, and I was told they were the best one and that they were the facility everyone else wanted to be like," Edgerly said. "So none of the others could be within 1,000 feet of them. I was told the school is moving, so that is not an issue." In addition to SR71, the other permitted club is Compassionate Healing Center on West Grand -- better known to clients as "Parking in Rear," because of its only signage. The fourth permit allowed by the City Council is up for grabs, and confusion and rumors abound as to how it will be granted. One club operator said he received a letter stating if he finds an acceptable location by July 15, his club will be included in a lottery for the fourth permit. But Edgerly said that is not true, and she will consider applications using the same criteria used all along. "I have most of the information I need on the clubs, so we would look at whether the new building is up to code and meets ADA requirements," she said. Jeff Jones, executive director of the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative, said he agrees with the city's attempts at regulation but not with how they have been carried out. He is lobbying to raise the four-club limit. "They are dispersing what I consider a rightful service that was bringing good things to the city," he said of the Oaksterdam cannabis clubs. "I consider this to be haphazard enforcement. But I think the city will work out the bugs." Jones, whose co-op no longer dispenses marijuana but issues identification cards to patients with prescriptions and works closely with the city on cannabis issues, said he thinks the city will work out the glitches. He plans to stay in the neighborhood, which will soon undergo dramatic change. "All this is to be expected given the redevelopment money coming into my neighborhood," Jones said, referring to the massive Forest City housing development as well as plans to renovate the Fox Theater and move Mayor Jerry Brown's charter arts high school there. Sparky Rose, operator of Compassionate Caregivers on Telegraph -- also known as "Third Floor" because of its location -- said he is trying to follow the city's process and apply for the fourth permit. He said he was surprised to find out the club 7,000 patients and has 150 employees, had been denied. It has been tough to find a new location that is not within 1,000 feet of youth-oriented activities, churches or other dispensaries, Rose said. "We are working as hard as we can to get this fourth permit," Rose said. "We will close at 8 p.m. Tuesday, and we will not reopen." Two other clubs denied permits -- the Lemon Drop Coffeeshop on Telegraph and The Green Door on Webster -- have already stopped dispensing. A couple of dispensaries that never applied for permits may still be open. The one dispensary that defied the city's order to shut down finally closed its doors Friday, but may have opened sporadically since then. Ken Estes, owner of Dragonfly Holistic Solutions -- formerly called the 420 Cafe -- said he's convinced he will get the fourth permit. "I think this time they are gong to factor into the equation what the patients want," he said. "I will close for a little while until they resolve this, but if they don't work it out in a couple of days I'll reopen." Estes posted a sign on the door of his Telegraph Avenue shop urging customers to contact city officials to complain. Jane Weirick, owner of one of two cannabis dispensaries sanctioned by the city of Hayward, said she's seen an influx of new clients to her Hayward Patients' Resource Center since Oakland's new ordinance took effect. "I've seen three or four dozen new people that I've never seen before," Weirick said. "With the (Oakland) clubs closing, it's going to get worse."Staff writer Michelle Meyers contributed to this report. Note: All but one facility in 'Oaksterdam' denied city permits for distribution.Source: Oakland Tribune (CA)Author: Laura Counts,  Staff WritersPublished: Wednesday, June 16, 2004 Copyright: 2004 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: triblet angnewspapers.com Website: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:OCBChttp://www.rxcbc.org/Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmCity Withholds Permits from Cannabis Clubshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19007.shtmlCity Cannabis Clubs Forced To Competehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18667.shtmlPot Clubs Worry City May Impose Regulations http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18291.shtml

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Comment #3 posted by afterburner on June 17, 2004 at 10:14:58 PT
Hypocrisy, Clearly Unconstitutional&Discriminatory
"City Administrator Deborah Edgerly decided to enforce a provision in the new ordinance that prohibits pot clubs from operating within 1,000 feet of schools, churches, youth-oriented facilities and other dispensaries." Pharmacies (drug stores) with legal true narcotics (morphine, codeine, OxyContin, Percoset, Vicoden), taverns with their multi-leveled alcohol-based beverages, and variety stores dispensing legal tobacco products are not subjected to the clearly discriminatory anti-cannabis restrictions in a legal medical cannabis environment.' Jane Weirick, owner of one of two cannabis dispensaries sanctioned by the city of Hayward, said she's seen an influx of new clients to her Hayward Patients' Resource Center since Oakland's new ordinance took effect. ' "I've seen three or four dozen new people that I've never seen before," Weirick said. "With the (Oakland) clubs closing, it's going to get worse." 'Driving the medical cannabis business underground or out-of-town is not co-operative with the spirit of the Compassionate Use Act. This attempt at local control shows signs of prohibitionism.' Jeff Jones, executive director of the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative, said he agrees with the city's attempts at regulation but not with how they have been carried out. He is lobbying to raise the four-club limit. ' "They are dispersing what I consider a rightful service that was bringing good things to the city," he said of the Oaksterdam cannabis clubs. "I consider this to be haphazard enforcement. But I think the city will work out the bugs." ' WeThePeople need to remind government at all levels when they are undermining the will of the people. To offer a hand of peace, co-operation, but to squawk when naked power grabs deny that will. Medical Freedom Amendment for 2004! 
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Comment #2 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on June 16, 2004 at 14:25:57 PT
Hookahs Over Baghdad
Insteresting story at boston.com - a few pertinent passages:BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) The job of occupying Iraq means hardship and long hours and sometimes a game of Risk over a hookah and a few beers...On a typical evening, one can see U.S. soldiers smoking from 4-foot-tall hookahs and security contractors guffawing over beer, their machine guns by their sides. The CPA's would-be strategists can sometimes be seen in their ubiquitous military desert boots and dress shirts and slacks, playing Risk, the board game of global domination.
Raucous bar scene emerges in Baghdad's green zone
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Comment #1 posted by siege on June 16, 2004 at 14:02:49 PT
off top
Education, Energy, and Elections:
       ( Senator Lamar Alexander)The Yale Politic
June 14, 2004 Stem cell research: I joined 57 other senators in signing a letter to President Bush regarding stem cell research. I believe it is time for the President to review and expand his policy that allows limited federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. I know the President would do this ethically and with proper controls. Since he authorized some funding three years ago, we have learned more about how this research might help millions of Americans with Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis, spinal injury and other diseases. If fertilized eggs which are developed to help couples have children are not used for research, they are likely discarded. Rather than throw them away, we should use more of them for research that might extend and save lives.      
You currently have co-sponsored legislation with Senator Tom Carper regarding the ability of states to tax internet use. What is the future of Internet taxation? What is the government's role in the development of the Internet?LEGISLATIVE UPDATEBioShield Act: The Senate has passed important legislation to protect our country from bioterrorism. The bill will improve our government’s ability to produce countermeasures against biological, radiological, chemical and nuclear threats. It also provides research and development opportunities for Tennessee health care businesses to be part of our nation's response to the threat of bioterrorism. During his State of the Union Address last year, President Bush introduced the Project BioShield initiative to develop and make available modern, effective drugs and vaccines to protect against biological and chemical attacks. This bill fulfills that commitment. I applaud Sen. Frist’s efforts on this bill and was proud to join him as a co-sponsor.
http://alexander.senate.gov/news/205781.html
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