Anni Marshall
Please explain your position on bringing cannabis dispensaries to Avalon, either for medical, adult-use or both?
The City has placed an Advisory Measure for your consideration: To allow an adult use cannabis dispensary or and adult use delivery service. (The City did approve a medicinal cannabis service for adult patients, it is currently in operation.)
Results of the measure could provide guidance to the Council in either allowing or not allowing an adult use delivery or a “storefront” dispensary.
Cannabis sales are not about making money for the City but rather regulating the delivery of organic products to an adult population.
Cannabis is legal in California. It is a drug which alleviates pain, side effects of illnesses such as cancer, seizures, PTSD, glaucoma and more. It is also shared in nonviolent social settings. Do you prefer addiction to opiates, heroin, and alcohol which results in thousands of deaths each year? I do not.
Many people are offended by cannabis’ odor. Alternative consumption methods could be promoted as well as a location for consumption to reduce the odor experienced on city streets. Consumers must be respectful of their neighbors. Consumption in the home is allowed by law.
Getting on a soap box for a minute. Did you know there is a minimum of 40 locations where someone can purchase &/or consume alcohol in our City of 1.5 square miles? Alcohol is a drug which kills many, including my brother. And alcohol is legal. How many of us know others who have died as a result of alcoholism or are living with liver disease? Ask law enforcement how many calls they receive from people over drinking: domestic violence, bar room brawls, traffic accidents etc. Then ask again of the problems generated by cannabis consumption.
These Measures are not about addressing the illegal use of marijuana by our children. We know the dangers of young people smoking. Our concern should be to nab the adults who are providing black market drugs of any kind to our children. This is a serious law enforcement issue.
Steven Hoefs
Please explain your position on bringing cannabis dispensaries to Avalon, either for medical, adult-use or both?
The use of medical marijuana can be life changing and help numerous people with a variety of ailments. I am so pleased that we as a city can now offer delivery of this much needed prescription to those who are in need of it as an important part of their healthcare. It is our responsibility and obligation to provide access to what our residents need medically, and I am grateful and proud that we have made this possible.
However, it is my opinion that there is no need for a storefront dispensary for medicinal or recreational purposes here in Avalon.
The Surgeon General recently issued an advisory that the increasing availability of marijuana may have severe consequences on the mental health and educational achievement in adolescents and increase their risk for addiction and misuse of other substances. To ignore this data would be irresponsible in my opinion. Our community has repeatedly expressed concerns about our children and our school, about alcohol abuse and drug addiction and the negative impacts on our community. I share the same concerns and believe that we must do all we can to protect our youth and provide an environment that sets them up for success.
Fiscally, the possible revenue gained is nominal, and I believe we can find other revenue streams to help meet our community needs. Preliminary reports are indicating that many dispensaries in cities that have approved them are now closing. The early data is showing that this model is not as successful as anticipated. Additionally, cities adopting dispensary programs are the exception, not the norm in California-with only 30 to 35 percent of municipalities approving sales of recreational marijuana from a dispensary. The mindset that it is prevalent is false, and I believe it would be wise to see how the industry develops before making any decisions to approve sales from a storefront dispensary.
People visit Avalon for a unique experience that makes them feel like they are “getting away from it all”.
I believe that opening a cannabis dispensary has the possibility of changing the experience. We often hear complaints about tourists who have been drinking excessively and how that impacts our quality of life and the lives of our children. I’m just not sure it is wise to invite another easily acquired option for visitors to indulge in a substance that alters behavior.
Residents who choose to use marijuana recreationally already do so. They have access to it and are accustomed to sourcing it for themselves, much like we all find ways to get things that are only available on the mainland. So those who need it medically now have a delivery option, and those who use it recreationally can still continue to access it as they have been all along. While it may be inconvenient to not have a dispensary on the island I believe it is worth it in order to protect our children.
With all that said, I look forward to seeing the results of this ballot measure to gain a better understanding of what it is the voters want. As always, I am here to listen to the voices of the people.
