Ever since the passage of Proposition 64 in November, the city of Benicia has had many discussions at various meetings over how the statewide legalization of cannabis should be treated within the city. On Sept. 19, the Benicia City Council reviewed a draft ordinance making recommendations for cannabis activities. Among these suggestions were allowing up to two dispensaries in commercial areas, restricting dispensaries to at least 600 feet away from schools, evaluating a recommended distance from youth centers and parks, limiting dispensaries’ hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., limiting personal cultivation to no more than six mature plants grown indoors, allowing manufacturing facilities and testing labs in the industrial zones, permitting cannabis deliveries for medical users, and requiring cannabis business operators to have a license.
In addition to many discussions at council meetings throughout the year, the issue was at the forefront of the Oct. 13 Planning Commission meeting. The issue even made its way to Benicia Unified School District’s governing board meeting, where the board unanimously adopted a resolution provide concerns and recommendations on the matter to the council for its Nov. 7 meeting, where it is slated to hold a final vote ahead of the state regulations taking effect on Jan. 1, 2018.
Members of the District Office and school board have openly voiced opposition to the ordinance as presented due to cannabis’ potential impact on youth. Superintendent Dr. Charles Young and trustee Peter Morgan spoke at the Planning Commission meeting, and trustee Diane Ferrucci had previously joined Young at a September City Council meeting. Young noted that the resolution had two parts: one going over potential impacts and another outlining recommendations for the city to take. The resolution cited studies by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the California Department of Public Health. Among the concerns that Young noted from the studies were cannabis’ link to increased mental health disorders, a lower high school completion rate for cannabis users, youth users’ loss of an average of eight IQ points and increased dropout rates. The resolution recommended the city not allow “canabusinesses” but suggested that if they were allowed should be located more than 1,000 feet from schools, parks and child care centers. The resolution also suggested that a local tax is developed to fund counseling and drug education programs before businesses are licensed.
Morgan praised the research done by the district, something he felt the Planning Commission did not do enough of.
“What bothers me the most is that it’s being taken in an uninformed way,” he said. “The Planning Commission asked questions and were given no information about the impact that marijuana dispensaries violate federal law. As it pertains to our role as trustees, I worry about that normalization, if you will, they enact as role models on the message that sends to our youth that federal law is not the law of the land.”
Morgan also took issue with the city taking the state’s suggestion of dispensaries being at least 600 feet away from schools rather than the district’s recommendation for 1,000.
Trustee Stacy Holguin said she had written a letter to Mayor Elizabeth Patterson and the City Council expressing disappointment that the council was not assessing the impacts. She received a reply from Patterson saying the council would consider what she said.
“Clearly they may have considered it but they didn’t take any value to everything they heard the night from the folks that spoke,“ Holguin said.
Ferrucci felt the council was unaware of how surrounding cities were handling the legalization.
“We are the only other city besides Vallejo that has entertained the possibility of having a cannabis (dispensary),” she said, “and yet Vallejo has chosen not to venture into recreational because of the unintended consequences that they’re so worried about. Benicia wants medicinal and recreational.”
Trustee Celeste Monnette supported the resolution but felt cannabis would remain an issue in Benicia whether or not the council approved it.
“The reality is whether we have a dispensary in Benicia or we have a dispensary 10 minutes from here, it’s here,” she said. “We’re in the midst of a cultural and legal change around cannabis. There’s obvious, well-documented risk factors and reasons not to do it, especially for kids whose brains are still developing, but to me, it also fits in with drugs and alcohol in general.”
Ultimately, the board unanimously voted to adopt the resolution which will be suggested to the council for its Nov. 7 meeting.
In other business, the board unanimously approved the Single Plans for Student Achievement at BUSD’s middle and high schools and Young highlighted the work of Matt O’Reilly’s video production class at Benicia High School, which produces the weekly Panther TV web series.
The board will next meet Thursday, Nov. 2.
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“and yet Vallejo has chosen not to venture into recreational..” Completely false. Vallejo has NOT banned future “A” license activity. Nobody can apply for an “A” license yet anyway, anywhere. According to a recent speaker at PC, Weingarten Realty will not lease to cannabis-related businesses, so the whole of Southampton Center may be out by corporate policy. I have sent two emails to Weingarten in this state and Colorado to verify this claim, but no response yet.
Stan the important thing is they are taking a look and see approach to Recreational Cannabis. They may never make it legal in Vallejo. We shall see. Looks like Benicia could be the only city in Solano County with legal sales of Recreational Cannabis. If they put a micro cannabis business in the lower arsenal then all the pro recreational cannabis folks will be welcomed to have at it on site. That could be good we then would know who is smoking out in the open. May be your friendly pastor, school teacher and elected officials. I love that part of it. You know how that goes. Instead of saying lets meet for a beer you say lets meet for some smoking. At least we will know why they are there.
Consistently high BHS graduation rates and academic test scores do not indicate any problems with cannabis-related learning capacity in our schools. The kids can get all they want today if they want it. Like commenter “John” (?) said, be an involved parent and you won’t have to worry about your kids wanting drugs or alcohol to fill the void of your absence. When my kids went to BHS, I was more worried about their exposure to alcohol more than cannabis, especially when they started driving. I knew that alcohol will make you think you can drive when you have no business doing so, and that cannabis sometimes manifests a little paranoia such that you KNOW you shouldn’t be driving. It’s true what they say about cannabis-fueled drivers, going obviously slow, lol. DON’T do either! I gave my kids cab fare to take with them when they went out on weekends during their teen driving years. If they happened to get tipsy on alcohol, they were to take a cab home, no questions asked, and a ride to their car the next day.
Consistently sound, concise and logical reasoning. Thanks Stan! Also, John is correct “Be an involved parent!”. Especially for fathers.
The state will give us grants for education and counseling. All special tax $$$ goes in our GF unless otherwise directed.
Only on Recreational Cannabis. The state is not sure at this point what to do with the State excise 15% tax on medical cannabis. After Jan 1st with a state issued ID State/County ID you will be exempt from sales tax and city excise tax but maybe not the state excise tax. Without the state ID you will pay all taxes. A recommendation will not apply only the state issued ID. Stan what is your estimate on two recreational cannabis dispensaries in the City of Benicia will receive in taxes. Do you Know? That would help.
The Benicia Youth Action Coalition provided an eye-opening survey on youth being wired up on high caffeine energy drinks on campus, then consuming cannabis edibles so they can sleep! I observed a range of these products in a six foot wide by nine shelf high aisle display in Safeway, plus chilled offerings at the impulse fridge at the checkout. Some states are moving towards regulation of energy drinks, mostly targeting youth consumers who want to be a “Rock Star” or “Monster” among their peers. These poisons are even available as organic and sugar free. Many include the warning “Not for children”, but consumption of this garbage is routine in the two high schools.