My name is Dave McCullick. I operate a medical marijuana collective dispensary in the City of Clearlake. I recently applied for and was denied a business permit to operate due to a current moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries.
I am speaking to you today about the moratorium on medical marijuana and the importance of establishing legislation to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries. Rather than denying access to hundreds or even thousands of legally qualified patients that rely on it, I urge you to follow the example of several other municipalities that have successfully developed regulations without instituting moratoria, while others have voted not to extend brief moratoria. A moratorium is not a necessary step to regulate medical cannabis dispensaries, and it places an undue burden on medical marijuana patients.
California voters passed the Compassionate Use Act to ensure that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes. While a June 6, 2005 Supreme Court ruling in Gonzales v. Raich authorizes federal law enforcement officials the right to prosecute patients, California”s Attorney General Bill Lockyer issued a statement that same day affirming the state”s medical marijuana law.
Medical cannabis dispensaries provide support and healing for patients and serve as wellness facilities where individuals suffering from serious illnesses can find safe and affordable access to medicine, support and healing. Dispensing collectives have positive psychosocial health benefits for chronically ill people who are otherwise isolated. The type of support and services offered by many dispensaries improves the quality of life and, in some cases, may even prolong life.
Medical cannabis dispensaries are necessary for patients who are financially, physically, or otherwise restricted from producing their own medicine 9 particularly for patients who reside in Section 8 or other restrictive or subsidized government housing arrangements.
Medical cannabis collective dispensaries can be a positive part of our community. When properly permitted, regulated and operated, dispensing collectives will prevent lawful patients from unnecessary and potentially harmful entanglements with illicit markets or law enforcement. I encourage the Council to support and develop regulations that provide safe and legal access to medical cannabis so patients aren”t forced to access medicine in illegitimate places.
I also remind you that it is not necessary for policy makers to set arbitrary limitations on the number of dispensing collectives allowed to operate. Obviously, collectives who provide quality care and patient services to their membership will flourish whereas those that provide little or no service will fail. Capping the number of medical dispensaries limits customer choice, which results in both decreasing quality of care and creating affordability issues.
In closing I would like to emphasize my willingness and the willingness of my staff and our collective membership to work with and assist the City and the Council in any way we can to develop and implement legislation beneficial to the entire community.
Editor”s Note: David McCullick, who represents the D and M Compassion Center in Clearlake, read this statement before the Clearlake City Council during its Thursday, June 22 regular meeting.
