Oakland’s cannabis dispensaries have been generating significant employment and revenue and are not a problem for the police, according to a Feb 27 report from the city administrator’s office to the City Council Public Safety Committee.
The report by city administrative hearing officer Barbara Killey contradicts the widespread myth that dispensaries are a public nuisance and source of problems, as has been alleged by critics from law enforcement in cities without dispensaries.
(Elsewhere, Berkeley police reported no recent problems with the city’s three dispensaries. “I’m going to equate it to having a high-end jewelry store,” Berkeley Police Officer Ed Galvan told KRON-4 News. “You have a product that’s in high-demand with a high dollar value.”)
Patient advocates urged Oakland to liberalize its dispensary regulations, saying that patients had been forced to patronize other facilities in Berkeley and Alameda County due to the city’s excessive restrictions. In particular, they called on the city to permit on-sight consumption, allow more dispensaries and license off-site dispensary gardens.
Nadel proposed raising the number of dispensaries in Oakland to 6
According to the City Administrator’s report, dispensary revenues declined dramatically after the city cut back to just two dispensaries a year ago, from $16.423 million to $5.461 million. It predicted an upswing in revenues this year due to the recent licensing of two more dispensaries. The city’s four current dispensaries employ a total of 99 persons.
City Council member Nancy Nadel proposed raising the number of dispensaries in the city to six, allowing on-site vaporization, and establishing licenses for dispensary gardens.
Committee Chairman Larry Reid flatly opposed Nadel’s proposals. Councilmember Jean Quan expressed skepticism, but voted to have the City Administrator report on Nadel’s plan.
Oakland patients have vowed to keep pressing the city for more liberal dispensary regulations. Oaklanders are urged to contact their city council members.
“If all that Americans want is security, they can go to prison. They’ll have enough to eat, a bed and a roof over their heads.”
— President Dwight D. Eisenhower
 Dale Gieringer, Ph.D | |
| About the author: | |
 Dr. Dale Gieringer received his Ph.D. at Stanford on the topic of DEA drug regulation. He is the author of articles on marijuana and driving safety, drug testing, marijuana health mythology, the economics of marijuana legalization, and DEA "drug enforcement abuse." He is presently working on a book on medical use of marijuana. He has also sponsored research on the use of water pipes and vaporizers to reduce harmful tars in marijuana smoke. | |
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