Cannabis: Too many unanswered questions I had the opportunity to attend the Feb. 6 Benicia City Council meeting. I was an instructor for 37 years. I have been a small-business owner in Benicia for the last 14 years and a resident for the past eight. I attended so I could be apprised on the cannabis […]
Council takes first step in cannabis legalization with ordinance readings
The Benicia City Council completed its first reading of the city’s cannabis ordinances at Tuesday’s meeting. This is marks the first step in legalizing cannabis within the city. The seven ordinances read by the council regarded person cultivation of cannabis, commercial cultivation, laboratories for testing, manufacturing, commercial retail, microbusinesses and delivery. The council approved six […]
Letters: Cannabis and cannabis
Disregard for community Although I am disappointed in the turnout of Benicia City Council’s second cannabis vote in December, I am far more disappointed in the fact that three of our councilmembers clearly have little regard for the members of the community they are to represent. They have their own agenda and no interest in […]
James Egan: The cannabis ordinance and democracy (Part 2)
By James Egan, M.D. Special to the Herald In Sunday’s Herald, I mined the information in the Benicia Town Hall cannabis survey to reach the conclusion that a large majority of those responding did not favor retail distribution of recreational cannabis outside of the Industrial Park. While on the topic of the survey, it is […]
Cannabis, Foundry and Office buildings back on council agenda
Two issues that have been hotly debated by the Benicia City Council in the past year– cannabis laws and the final decision of an emergency demolition permit for two historic buildings– are on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting. The council will introduce ordinances to allow personal cultivation and to regulate and allow commercial cannabis uses […]
James Egan: The draft cannabis ordinance and democracy (Part 1)
By James Egan, MD Special to the Herald After lulling critics into complacency, the Benicia City Council has instructed staff to draw up a draft ordinance allowing the licensing of three marijuana distribution centers in the city of Benicia, including a microbusiness. It becomes clearer that the council’s unanimous vote on Dec. 5 to disallow […]
Cannabis: Our future is here
Supporters of regulated cannabis activity in our town have referenced the convincing victory of Proposition 64 here in November of 2016. The will of the majority, plus science and evidence, is prevailing over incomplete knowledge and emotions. There is no common ground on the cannabis issue. You are either on the side of regulation or […]
Letter: Reasonable approach to marijuana retail
Reasonable approach to marijuana retail An all-cash business dealing in a potentially intoxicating substance such as liquor or marijuana should do business fully in the public eye – not in some shadowy corner. The ideal location has lots of traffic, police patrols, good parking and bright lighting at night. This is best for both public […]
Letters: ISO and cannabis
Real-time air monitoring needed According to a May 23 KQED article regarding the May 5 Valero Benicia Refinery incident: “The refinery should be held to higher safety standards, the same standards that the four refineries in Contra Costa are held to,” Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia said. The number of serious refinery accidents in Contra […]
A Mayor’s Perspective: A Look at 2017
By Elizabeth Patterson Benicia Mayor (Editor’s Note: A portion of this article ran in Sunday’s Year in Review section. It is being reprinted here in its entirety.) Mutual understanding and consensus on the most pressing issues facing Benicia will allow the city to focus its limited resources and the city council to make the necessary […]