Pubdate: Wed, 30 Oct 2013
Source: Reporter, The (Vacaville, CA)
Copyright: 2013 The Reporter
Contact:  http://www.thereporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/472
Author: Kimberly K. Fu

VACAVILLE MEETING SPARKS DEBATE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

The hot button that is medical marijuana was pushed Tuesday night in 
Vacaville, with speakers on both sides of the spectrum voicing 
passionate opinions at a public meeting on the issue.

The goal -- for Solano County officials to gather commentary on 
whether potential dispensary sites are plausible.

"This issue is one that a lot of local governments have struggled 
with," said Bill Emlen, the county's director of the Department of 
Resource Management. "It's a complicated issue, in reality. It's not 
a traditional land use issue."

Land use, he emphasized, is the focus, not the legality of medical marijuana.

"What we struggled with is we have the state laws and federal laws," 
Emlen continued. "It's been all over the map. Folks are really 
figuring how to deal with this issue."

Maps located around the conference room at the Nut Tree Airport 
showed possible designated dispensary locations in rural parts of 
Vacaville, Dixon, Fairfield and Vallejo. Vacaville has several 
potential sites -- Midway Road and Interstate 505, Midway Road and 
Interstate 80, Quinn Road, Elmira, and Gibson Canyon Road.

The Solano CountyBoard of Supervisors recently extended a moratorium 
on dispensaries, though no official decision has been made on their 
establishment. The moratorium ends next July.

The initial moratorium came in 2009, expired thereafter and was 
reinstated in 2011 with extensions in 2012 and this year. All cities 
but Vallejo currently have bans in place.

Elmira resident Desiree Forde-Silva supports a dispensary being 
located in her area. Taxes could be collected on the sales, she said, 
and the money would stay in Solano instead of going to other areas 
with dispensaries, like Sacramento. She also disputed claims that 
such sites would increase crime rates.

"Everybody knows everybody and they'll tell," she said.

Mike Ashford, a retired Vacaville police lieutenant, disagreed.

"I'm not willing to sacrifice my safety for tax money," he said. 
"It's inappropriate for our community. ... I just don't want it near 
my kids or grandkids."

Sue Hogue, a retired special education expert with school districts 
in Stockton and Solano, asked for a ban on dispensaries throughout 
Solano. It's not needed or wanted, she said, pointing out huge risks 
and other concerns related to dispensaries.

"Please don't do this to us," she pleaded.

William Hampton, a medical marijuana advocate, and retiree from the 
state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said there's no 
evidence of marijuana as a gateway drug and that a local dispensary 
would save qualified users from long drives to get the "medicine" they need.

"It's not a thing that's just criminally inclined," he said.

Ernest Kimme, a former Vacaville City Councilman, cancer survivor and 
Reporter editorial board member, said he uses a medical marijuana 
tincture to ease his nausea and pain related to throat cancer.

"It's given me the opportunity to live a life rather than slowly 
die," he pointed out.

Jeff Matlock, a Napa County sheriff's deputy, said the medical 
marijuana law is abused by many recreational users. He suggested 
placing the dispensaries in industrial areas instead of residential 
ones if need be.

Meanwhile, Maureen Carson, Vacaville's director of community 
development, expressed concern that the designated rural locations 
for Vacaville fall within the city's sphere of influence and could be 
annexed into the city in coming years.

Four more community meetings on the issue are scheduled. They include:

* Today, in the Vallejo City Council chambers, 555 Santa Clara St. in Vallejo.

* Nov. 5, in Tremont Hall at the Dixon May Fair, 655 South First St. in Dixon.

* Nov. 6, in the first floor multi-purpose rooms of the County 
Administration Center, 675 Texas St. in Fairfield.

* Nov. 7, in the Winters City Council chambers in Winters, 318 First 
St. in Winters.

For more information go to solanocounty.com/medicalmarijuana or 
contact the Department of Resource Management at 784-6765. People can 
sign up at the website for email notifications of upcoming events.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom