ARMA Update

Regional Medical Cannabis News

City of San Diego Pursues Zoning Violations

Medicinal cannabis patients and providers awaiting permitted cooperatives in the city of San Diego are currently in a no-man’s land while the city reviews applications for sites under the regulations that went into effect in the spring.

Meanwhile, those operating without a permit are drawing the ire of some council members who are pushing for stronger enforcement and for unlicensed shops to be shut down.

Because medical marijuana is legal in California, law enforcement actions against cooperatives often result in strong defenses and failed prosecutions. San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith explained in a recent U-T San Diego article that the city is pursuing all unlicensed cooperatives as they would any other zoning violation – as civil actions with no appeals process or jury trial, but which are nonetheless time-consuming and complex.

Read more: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/aug/24/marijuana-dispensary-shutdown-struggle-goldsmith/

While many cooperative operators view this new land-use-based enforcement as an opening to set up shop for a few months, there are many indications they shouldn’t get too comfortable -- several City Hall insiders have indicated plans are in the works to significantly step up code enforcement against unlicensed dispensaries once the city has permitted sites where patients can go for medication.

“They’ve been holding back because they recognize there are no permitted dispensaries, but enforcement will be much more aggressive once we have lawfully operating dispensaries,” said one ARMA source. “There will no longer be compassion for patients holding them back, because there will be places where patients can go to get their meds safely and legally.”

While cooperatives can unquestionably be good and responsible neighbors, the current “in-between” situation could be a setback for the medicinal cannabis community’s reputation. While many are investing hundreds of thousands of dollars going through the complex and difficult process of obtaining one of the 36 city permits allowed in San Diego, unlicensed cooperatives getting in their “last gasp” have little incentive to invest in the most neighborhood-friendly approach.

ARMA has been a staunch advocate for clear and reasonable regulations, and San Diego’s current ordinance is a first step in the right direction. We urge cooperative operators to be persistent in obtaining a license to do business lawfully, and once granted, to make every attempt to be great neighbors.

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Pot-shop Controversy Continues to Incubate in Pacific Beach and Across City
http://sdnews.com/view/full_story/25713277/article-Pot-shop-controversy-continues-to-incubate-in-Pacific-Beach-and-across-city-?instance=update1

California Legislative Update

SB 1193 Pulled After Harmful Amendments Added

After some harmful last-minute amendments to SB 1193 which caused many medical cannabis groups not only to withdraw their support for the bill but also to actively campaign against it, the bill was ultimately sent to the inactive file.

The original bill, authored by Senator Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), was a seemingly win-win situation for both patients and law enforcement -- simplifying the process by which seized cannabis plants were handled, but also requiring that the plants be returned or growers reasonably compensated for if it turned out they were wrongfully confiscated. Unfortunately, the Assembly Appropriations Committee amended the bill and removed the important property rights protections. Thanks to an 11th-hour grassroots campaign against the bill by organizations like ARMA and Americans for Safe Access, Sen. Evans decided not to call for a vote in the full Assembly, and the bill was deemed inactive.

More MMJ News: Elsewhere Edition

Finally, Some Hard Science on Medical Marijuana for Epilepsy Patients
http://time.com/3264691/medical-marijauna-epilepsy-research-charlottes-web-study/

Marijuana Compound May Slow, Halt Progression of Alzheimer's
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/08/28/marijuana-compound-may-slow-halt-progression-alzheimer/

Prescription Painkiller Deaths Fall in Medical Marijuana States
http://news.yahoo.com/prescription-painkiller-deaths-fall-medical-marijuana-states-202837041.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory

Ruling Could Help Marijuana Collectives
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/marijuana-632507-collective-court.html

Arizona Cannabis Nurses Sue State Over PTSD Ruling
http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/26422510/arizona-cannabis-nurses-sue-state-over-ptsd-ruling

Bid to Expand Medical Marijuana Business Faces Federal Hurdles
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/24/us/bid-to-expand-medical-marijuana-business-faces-federal-hurdles.html?_r=0

DEA Cements Plan to Boost Cannabis Production
http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/dea-cements-plan-to-boost-cannabis-production/

I-News Report: Marijuana Economics
http://www.summitdaily.com/news/12718467-113/marijuana-market-state-legal

Marijuana Taxes Are Upheld, But Paying Them Could Incriminate You
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2014/08/23/marijuana-taxes-are-upheld-but-paying-them-could-incriminate-you/

Marijuana Legalization Has Researchers Wondering If Traffic Deaths Will Rise
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/01/marijuana-traffic-deaths_n_5747108.html

Berkeley Pushes a Boundary on Medical Marijuana
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/03/us/03berkeley.html?_r=0

Colorado Bars Businesses From Applying for $9M in MMJ Grants
http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/colorado-releases-restrictions-on-grant-applicants/

Round-table with Marcela Escobar-Eck

By now, most applicants going through the MMCC permitting process in the city of San Diego have presented their projects to their community planning groups and have submitted their responses to the city's concerns. What's next? Former head of DSD Marcela Escobar-Eck will address that and answer any questions you may have about the on-going process. Join ARMA and Ms. Escobar-Eck on Friday, September 26 from 3:30-5:30PM at Giovanni's Italian Restaurant located at 9353 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92123. Members participate for free, everyone else can join in for $195 per person.

ARMA Mixer

Our last mixer was so much fun, we decided to do it again! Join ARMA on Wednesday, September 24th from 5:00-8:00PM for a fun evening of wine tasting and socializing at San Diego Cellars in Little Italy (2215 Kettner Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101).

In addition to a great night of networking, we will be discussing the latest developments in the City of San Diego's permitting process as well as medical cannabis developments from across the state and nation.

Meet, mingle and network with ARMA board members, staff, and stakeholders. San Diego Cellars offers premium wines, local craft beers and delicious snacks. For more information about SD Cellars, please see http://sdcellars.com/.

Alliance for Responsible Medicinal Access
ARMA UPDATE

September 5, 2014 Volume 1, Issue 8

Alliance for Responsible Medicinal Access ARMA UPDATE

September 5, 2014 Volume 1, Issue 8

Alliance for Responsible Medicinal Access
ARMA UPDATE