SoCal NORML offers up dispensary ordinance
Craig Beresh, director of the Southern California branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, just popped by the office to drop off a copy of a draft ordinance for the regulation of cannabis dispensaries in San Diego.
Beresh says that he personally forced it into Mayor Jerry Sanders’ hands at a coffee shop this morning. SoCal NORML will be officially announcing the ordinance at a press conference this afternoon.
Some highlights:
- The city’s Planning Commission would issue “Dispensary Use Permits.” The dispensaries would pay fees for the permits.
- Hours of operation would be limited to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Dispensaries must be located in a “visible store-front type location which provides public views of the dispensary entrance, its windows and the entrance to the dispensary premises from a public street.” The ordinance says the reason for this is so that law enforcement can see into the dispensary and visit the non-cannabis area.
- Dispensaries would not be allowed within 500 feet of a school, church, or “special needs facility,” including Housing Authority projects where residents with drug abuse histories are in recovery. Dispensaries would not be allowed within 500 feet of each other or on any parcel zoned for residential use.
- Anyone involved in a violent hate crime would not be allowed to work in a dispensary.
- The dispensary would have to post “No Loitering” signs. Signs barring the consumption of marijuana would also be posted. Restrooms would remain locked.
- Dispensaries would need to verify recommendations with the physician’s office. Dispensaries would not be allowed to have an on-site physician to provide recommendations.
- Patients or primary caregivers would be limited to one ounce of dried marijuana per visit.
- Patients would not be allowed consume marijuana on the premises.
- Dispensaries would be allowed to engage in the commercial sale of paraphernalia, as long as they have the required licenses and permits and don’t display them in public areas.
- The dispensaries must have a waiting area and a separate and secure dispensing area for patients and caregivers.
- The dispensaries must have a security plan approved by the San Diego Police Department. Dispensaries must have vaults or safes for storing pot with an alert system that would result in police arriving within 15 minutes after being alerted by an alarm company. Security camera must be installed to montior the entrance and exterior of the premises.
- The dispensary must provide all neighbors within 100 feet with the name, cell phone and fax number for an “on-site community relations staff person.”
- Dispensaries should meet with police, city personnel, businesses within two blocks and neighborhood groups every quarter.
- Dispensary staff must receive training by a City Council-approved attorney.
- Dispensaries must clean up all graffiti on the premises and in the parking lot within 72 hours of it turning up.
- Dispensaries would be subject to an annual audit by the city.
Seriously? With the fiscal constraints the city currently faces, this draft legislation is nothing more than a wish list of regulation and oversight we cannot afford. The city only recently caught up with audits of its own books. Now we are suppose to foot the bill to audit individual “business?” I pray we constrain pot shops until realistic solutions can be found.
These costs would be minimal compared to the wasted tax dollars our DA and law enforcement are wasting on these pointless raids that took months of planning/billed hours that resulted in 2 people being charged.
The taxes and monies paid for permits would easily fund these regulations.
I wonder if the fees leveled would be enough to pay for it.
its something positive. Craig is doing what his wing of the medical cannabis community thinks is best. That’s a lot more than Bonnie Dumanis and the city / county government has done, positively anyway.
Any number of plans could be quickly put together and voted on, why is it that SO CAL Norml is doing what the paid servants of the city county and state are supposed to be doing, while sick people suffer needlessly?
Politics and personal feelings, from the DA to the city council and the local law enforcement agencies. They don’t want to follow the law, period.
And what about the existing herb dispensaries? Why is there one ‘dispensary director’ on the mmj task force, and who does she represent, really?
Also, how should we regard the many people in jail (POWs in the war on patients)? And those in the system, on their way there if they don’t plead guilty and take a dose of pain from ‘the system’.
Leaders, may we have Amnesty, Pardons, and more creative solutions, please!
who is craig and what is his wing? did he allow any of the collectives that support norml review his ordinance?what is his agenda?the task force is much more patient friendly and has less restrictive views than craigs BS ordinance,craig expects dispenaries to lock their bathrooms and hire toilet attendants to monitor them?f’ing wack!,1 ounce limit what if a member only bakes and needs 8 ounces of shake to cook with? craig and HIS ordinance says “to bad suffer”,and who is herb folks and who do they represent?,is it one mans personal playground?
“who is craig and what is his wing? did he allow any of the collectives that support norml review his ordinance?what is his agenda?the task force is much more patient friendly and has less restrictive views than craigs BS ordinance,craig expects dispenaries to lock their bathrooms and hire toilet attendants to monitor them?f’ing wack!,1 ounce limit what if a member only bakes and needs 8 ounces of shake to cook with? craig and HIS ordinance says “to bad suffer”,and who is herb folks and who do they represent?,is it one mans personal playground?”
We agree with some of the points SDbudz says here….but he needs to calm down and play nicer with folks. Relax, you don’t know everything nor do I or the other staff writers (there are six of them for your information).
Some of your other stuff (like ‘put a leash on this freak’) is stupid, mindless, nazi-like gibberish). Nonsense, its still supposed to be America, act like it SDBudz. !st amendment and all down here in the states.
By the way, is it true the only ‘co-op’ director on the so called MMJ task force is not an American citizen? Maybe from Canada? What does that have to do with this discussion? hmmm…… if its true, and she’s the only dispensary director on the task force, what does this mean? Who picked her to represent California patient’s caregivers (“collectives”) in San Diego again?
your facts are wrong about the collective rep look it up,by the way is it true you left your collective members hanging for $1000′s and blamed it on getting busted?,and you did not want any court support because you were afraid your collective members would show up wanting their money back? what does have to do with this discussion? hmm
and one more thing we can thank craig for the great coverage on the news, ABC NBC,hey Dale put a leash on this freak he is going to blow it for every one,
reply from dale G, he does not support craig and any of his actions, socal norml is on its own
Those are some very good points, SDBudz. I’ll see if I can get Craig to come and comment.
“the dispensary is required to perform a background check of the owners, investors and all employees”the words owner and investor would mean that there is a profit motive, not allowed! the more I read this ordinance the more F’ed up it is,did the norml legal team cut and paste this ordinance from 2010 intiative?,craigs ordinance reads like a straight up legalization ordinance not an MMJ ordinance
Not necessarily: Non-profits often take out bonds, etc. I did email Craig, asking him to respond. We’ll see what he says.
if Craigs ordinance is adopted expect news headlines like this: Bonnie D raids collectives! “they forgot to lock their bathroom door they are criminals”
hey herb folk on your website you say you are against the city of dana point asking for patients records,take a look at your boy Craigs regulations if you go to a collective in SD the police will have your name address and phone number your doctors name address and phone number ,and a list of how much marijuana you bought and when you bought it submitted to the polide every three months ,how much meds you need is between you and your doctor not the f’ing cops
Ok Guys this ordinance was put togeather by the NORML legal team in conjuction with its members which include about 90% of the collectives in San Diego. The ordinance has wiggle room for the city. We expect them to be used as guidelines. As I dont think the city wll implement them as is.
to be clear: we don’t condemn, nor do we entirely agree with, all of SOCAL norml’s positions. But we support norml and all those who truly want to help medical patients obtain their chosen medicine. We appreciate the efforts craig and the current crop of norml folks here in San Diego / LA / OC are making. Its a lot more than many of you in ‘the herb movement’ are doing (besides talking trash on weedwhacker and lame sites like it).
like herb folks?
90% of the collectives got to read the ordinance?I call BS, wiggle room what the hell is that?you claimed this was the end all beat all drop it right in place ordinance ,norml is full of it,your legal team sucks,now they are not the drop in regs.? Craig you are f’ing wack go back to your nudist hole
craig you think its ok to drop in and poison the minds of city officials with unreasonable regulations then claim it was only guidelines and would not be implemented, who do you work for the soccer moms?
the only thing socal norml represents is a group of underworked pot lawyers fishing for clients
Weed as a legit business my ass. I work adjacent to a medical marijuana establishment, i’m not going to say which one, and there is sketchy shit that goes on in the parking lot, especially right next to my fucking car, all day long! No joke. I see it all the time. Also, there happens to be a lot of weed related spray painting going on now. I wonder why? You fucks! Who gives a shit about harshing your mellow!
SDbudz is it true you are a thug, or is it just Tom and Kelly? You hide in the shadows and lie about anyone else who speaks out. Kim and you have been allowed to sell marijuana for all these years while the rest keep getting busted. Marti Emerald is being put on the spot as I write this: why is Mother Earth allowed to thrive while real caregivers keep getting robbed and raided? Why did she nominate Kim to represent collectives on the MMTF? Is Marti in on what you really do at Mother Earth Coop? hmmm… Why do you hide your address?
904 Fort Stockton should not be such a secret anymore! Great herb, great alcohol based elixzers, and impunity from prosecution. Such a deal!
All SoCal Norml lawyers work pro bono (thats free, not for profit!), why slam them Thor? Cause you fear exposure!