City leaders must proceed cautiously in the medical marijuana
debate and do enough research to find out how the opening of
cannabis clubs have impacted other cities
Two proposals to open medical marijuana dispensaries in town presented to city officials in late February forced members of the Morgan Hill City Council to consider the issue for the first time.
On March 7, the council unanimously adopted an emergency ordinance prohibiting medical marijuana dispensaries for 45 days. We believe the council acted wisely in imposing this moratorium.
The city is within its rights to extend the moratorium longer, if necessary, to carefully study an issue that’s not only emotional, but that could have a direct impact on the quality of life in Morgan Hill.
Medical marijuana is so controversial that state and federal law clash on its use. State law allows its cultivation and use for medical purposes, but federal law prohibits its use, cultivation, distribution or possession for any reason.
In 1996, California voters enacted Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, which allows patients and their primary caregivers to possess and cultivate marijuana to treat serious illnesses with a doctor’s prescription. Patients in Santa Clara County who have a prescription from a doctor can obtain medical marijuana at county-approved health sites in San Martin, Sunnyvale and Campbell. Other dispensaries currently operate in Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Oakland and Alameda County.
Scientific data shows that marijuana is an effective drug to treat seriously ill patients who lack alternative sources of relief, but that does not relieve the city of its duty to research how dispensaries will impact Morgan Hill before granting them permission to operate in town.
The Morgan Hill Police Department is concerned that permitting medical marijuana dispensaries in our city might threaten the public health, safety and welfare of our citizens.Â
The department’s concerns are prompted by problems reported in other municipalities that have allowed such dispensaries to operate. The reports include burglary attempts at the facilities, illegal drug dealers hanging around the dispensaries, driving under the influence of marijuana by members of dispensaries, assaults, loitering around dispensaries, falsely obtained identification cards, marijuana being grown illegally on public lands and other criminal activity.
Absolutely, the city and police department should check with other municipalities to determine if these reports are valid. It could be that there is a direct correlation between medical marijuana dispensaries and these types of crimes, or it could be hearsay. Let’s find out.
If the city decides to permit medical marijuana facilities, it would then need to conduct research about appropriate locations for these facilities.
Medical marijuana advocates must be treated with respect and dignity, but we remind them that Morgan Hill is a small community with very few resources to conduct extensive research on this volatile social question. We hope the applicants won’t use legal tactics to pressure our elected officials to prematurely open such dispensaries.
