I’ve been following Benicia’s progress toward implementing the 2016 Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64). Californians passed the act with a 57 percent majority, with 42 percent voting against. In Benicia, it passed with 63 percent of voters in favor. After decades of debate over the pros and cons of cannabis use, we’ve finally decided to control, regulate and tax adult use of marijuana and I’m glad for it. Given the alternative – continued prohibition, with associated crime, drug cartels, illegal grows, environmental degradation, crowded prisons, etc.– it’s no wonder seven states have now legalized adult recreational use and another 20 have legalized medical use. Hopefully this trend will continue since a recent Gallup poll showed 64 percent of Americans support legalization. It’s time to put this ugly part of our history behind us and move on.
The Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) gave cities the option of allowing or prohibiting cannabis businesses. Cities were given until Jan. 1, 2018, to decide what to do. Cities doing nothing default to the State, which could issue permits for growing, manufacture, sales, etc. As a result, some cities have banned sales while others (like Benicia) are crafting ordinances to allow cannabis businesses within their borders.
In the greater Bay Area; Emeryville, Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz County have approved adult use dispensary ordinances and Alameda, Hayward, San Leandro, Fairfax and Santa Rosa have approved– or are in the process of approving– cannabis businesses. The city of El Cerrito approved adult use dispensaries, but limited them to the commercial strip along San Pablo Avenue. Both Sacramento and West Sacramento are actively attracting cannabis businesses.
Along these lines, our city began the process of developing a cannabis ordinance back in May and conducted a citizen survey and workshop in July. Since then, the city staff drafted an ordinance that is currently undergoing review by the City Council. The ordinance was developed in accordance with the AUMA and would allow for 1 or two cannabis dispensaries as well as manufacturing facilities within the city limits.
I’ve attended a number of public meetings and read various comments concerning the merits of the ordinance in its current form. Having been to dispensaries in Washington and Oregon, I’m confident such businesses would benefit the community by bringing jobs, customers and tax revenue. In the words of councilman Mark Hughes: “If a business wants to open in Benicia, our first question should be “How can we help you?”
Unfortunately, a vocal minority seems bent on limiting, delaying or even preventing cannabis businesses in Benicia. I’ve listened carefully to their arguments suggesting that youth and/or family values will somehow be compromised. Yet when challenged, none have articulated any relevant reasons. Most of the objections cite cherry-picked statistics regarding the ill effects of cannabis use on youth or others. Such arguments harken back to the old “War on Drugs” and “Reefer Madness” of years gone by. It’s important to recognize that the question of adult use of marijuana was settled with the passage of AUMA. That boat already sailed. In fact, the California Medical Association endorsed the AUMA:
“The California Medical Association believes the Adult Use of Marijuana Act is a comprehensive and thoughtfully constructed measure that will allow state officials to better protect public health by clarifying the role of physicians, controlling and regulating marijuana use by responsible adults and keeping it out of the hands of children.” — Dr. Steven Larson, CMA president.
Other cannabis dispensary detractors envision seedy storefronts reeking of cannabis smoke with intoxicated pot heads stumbling in and out surrounded by a cloud of smoke. Nothing could be further from the truth. Under state law, it’s illegal to smoke cannabis in public and subject to a $100 fine. Local governments decide permits for businesses to allow on-site consumption, and none is proposed here. Cannabis storefronts in Oregon and Washington are about as noxious as a title company. Customers park nearby, go in, buy a product, go back to their car and go home or continue shopping. It’s like buying soap. That’s it.
As for youth, you must be 21 to get into a cannabis dispensary. It’s far easier for a kid to lift a bottle of liquor from the grocery store. According to a recent Pew survey, Americans believe, by a 5-1 margin, that alcohol is worse for you than marijuana.
Opponents want to put a no cannabis dispensary buffer around everything in town. State law requires a 600 foot buffer around schools. But naysayers insist on buffers around day care centers, churches, parks, First Street and the like. Apparently the idea is to make it impossible to locate a cannabis dispensary anywhere but the Industrial Park. This is overkill given the innocuous nature of such businesses. It’s as if some want to hide the fact that cannabis use by adults is legal. Again, the AUMA settled that. No one seems the least bit concerned about the proximity of alcohol and tobacco sales to anything. Raley’s itself seems like it’s half liquor store – from 4 percent alcohol to 151 proof. Cigarettes, chew, cigars, vapor, etc. are available at every convenience store. These drugs are much more damaging and addicting than cannabis, but no one cares about the proximity of these businesses to youth. So why cannabis?
The Benicia General Plan would have us encourage new and diverse businesses in Benicia. I see no reason to treat the cannabis industry differently. Tax revenue to the city could be substantial. Assuming a full spectrum of cannabis businesses, the City’s consultant, HDL, concluded that the city could see annual tax revenues ranging from $675,000 on the low end, and up to $1.6 million on the high end. These are serious numbers that shouldn’t be arbitrarily dismissed based on outdated beliefs and misinformation about cannabis. The AUMA is the law. Let’s embrace the benefits for which the AUMA was passed and welcome these businesses into Benicia.
Craig Snider is a Benicia resident who retired from the US Forest Service in 2014 where he fought forest fires among other things.
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BZ Craig! Not only the CMA, but League of California Cities and California Police Chiefs Association support regulation. Science and evidence is crushing rhetoric and emotion.
There will be no retail stores in the Industrial Park. Only non-retail. This city is not full of anti recreational cannabis it is full of residents that care and make their comments as they feel necessary. I do not think it is wise to put down these very fine residents just because you differ with their opinions. I do not agree with your opinions but I do have my own. I am not a prohibitionist as many of the few followers of pro retail recreational cannabis call us. We are very responsible residents with opinions that differ from yours.. I also say the tax should be 10% not the lower numbers. I firmly believe the BIP is where the revenue is not two recreational stores. We do not know how ,the council will vote on Nov. 7th. You might get a surprise Craig
Great essay Craig. I like this: “Such arguments harken back to the old “War on Drugs” and “Reefer Madness” of years gone by.” So true, yet, figurative boxes of these antiquities just keep on being trotted out. It make far more sense to prohibit the petroleum industry in town, as it is far more toxic and potentially disastrous.
Even if one takes every reefer madness allegation of
the prohibitionists at face value,
marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far
more people than marijuana ever could.
– William F. Buckley, Jr
Thank you Mr. Snider for your well reason article.
The article below is a history lesson about cannabis, hemp and marijuana that should interest our appointed and elected representatives as well as our citizenry.
A preview from the post below:
“Cannabis, hemp or marijuana is our oldest crop, sown for over 12,000 years (1), and may have been domesticated over 30,000 years ago. It produces more fuel, fiber, food and medicine than any other plant (2). The seeds of cannabis produce the most productive and nutritious vegetable oil and protein (3). Hemp produces more fiber, from its stems and stalks, than any other plant (4), and hemp fiber can be used to make paper, canvas, rope, lace, linen, building materials and more. Cannabis flowers and leaves also produce over 100 unique compounds known as cannabinoids that have many physical and psychological effects. (5)”
‘It is time to restore hemp, the oldest & most productive crop. Cannabis & hemp were renamed marijuana in the early part of the 20th Century in a misinformation campaign designed by and to benefit the petrochemical pharmaceutical military industrial transnational crony corporate elite ruling class (6). The reason hemp, or marijuana, was prohibited in the 20th century was to suppress hemp fuel and fiber production. Cannabis prohibition has always been about money, power and the centralization of economic and political control. Hemp fuel and fiber are inexpensive to make and naturally decentralized. Small groups of people created the marijuana myth so they could profit from the expensive, capital intensive petrochemical alternatives that dominate our political process and economy today. Hemp will decentralize our economic system and return wealth and control to the majority.”
https://www.counterpunch.org/2016/03/29/hemp-cannabis-and-marijuana-whats-the-difference/
Just stay home and watch Jeopardy next Tuesday instead of railing against cannabis. Make it a short night for everybody.
American Legion? Near unanimous?!
https://tinyurl.com/ycv2kzqq
Vets are finding a pathway OUT of opioid addiction with cannabis. States with legal access are indicating 25% reductions in overall opioid overdose deaths. Here’s one vet on the leading edge of the war on opioids.
https://tinyurl.com/y9gp24fx
I’ve always envisioned the old Mexican restaurant on East 5th St. as being a good location for a cannabis store. It has off street parking and it’s close to the highway. Plus it has been such an eyesore for years with the chain link fence around it. I’d love see that property fixed up and functional again.
That would be briliant!
It would be ironic too. It was shut down because they were selling meth, crack and other hard drugs.
“We are working hard to normalize it and do good.” There’s that word again.
https://tinyurl.com/y753lq54
Very surprised that the folks that supported health and safety that were against Crude by Rail some are now disregarding health and safety and are very pro recreational cannabis in Benicia. Same folks were very concerned about their children and all family members. Now that is not a concern. Just what drives these folks. Very simple Socialist Progressive politics. I have no problem with medical cannabis. Please explain to me why the Planning Commission wants Micro Cannabis operation in the lower Arsenal. It is vertical and can do all the operations of cannabis. That includes manufacturing, retail sales of recreational cannabis and guess what place to t use cannabis on site with a welcome sign. Worse yet the chair of the Planning Commission who backed that is rumored that she will be a candidate for City of Benicia council. Very disturbing and Revolting.
The City of Dixon is moving even faster than Benicia to integrate regulated cannabis activity? Now they have approved a THIRD dispensary in Dixon. For the money? YES, and plenty of it. What is interesting in this article is the mention of a “public benefit fee” to be paid monthly, then a percentage of gross sales beyond a threshold amount.
https://tinyurl.com/y9w6qbc7
Stan I have always said the real revenue is in the manufacturing and delivery service of both medical and recreational cannabis. Not store front operations. The city of Benicia has a golden opportunity with the Seeno property. What is happening their at present. I do not know but the combination of the BIP and the integration of the Seeno property in part to the BIP with retail will be huge revenue producer. I do not see this city going after that business. Now developers may be in contact with the city on that issue but it has not been disclosed as of now. We shall see.