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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04 - Imposing An Express Ban on Marijuana Cultivation, Marijuana Processing, Marijuana Delivery, and Marijuana Dispensaries in the City - CorrespondenceReceived After Agenda Printed November 24, 2015 Item No. 4 From: City Clerk's Office Sent: Friday, November 20, 20154:16 PM To: McDonald, Cristal; Mulvey, Jennifer; Rieff, Kim Subject: FW: Newport Beach Medical Marijuana Ban Ordinance From: Kiff, Dave Sent: Friday, November 20, 2015 4:15:47 PM (UTC -08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: 'Arika Pierce' Cc: Elizabeth Conway; City Clerk's Office Subject: RE: Newport Beach Medical Marijuana Ban Ordinance Dear Ms. Pierce — Thanks for your email. I'll make sure I your comments are part of the public record. Dave Kiff City Manager From: Arika Pierce [mailto:apierceC)gidellc.com] Sent: Friday, November 20, 2015 3:52 PM To: Kiff, Dave Cc: Elizabeth Conway Subject: Newport Beach Medical Marijuana Ban Ordinance Dear Mr. Kiff, I am writing you on behalf of Eaze--a medical marijuana delivery platform that connects licensed dispensaries to verified patients so that patients can receive medical marijuana products safely and professionally. Eaze is very concerned about the City Council's efforts to adopt an ordinance that would restrict delivery to medical marijuana patients in Newport Beach. Public policy experts assert technologically -driven medical marijuana delivery models have significant community benefits including: 1. Safe access to critical services and medicines for immobile patients. 2. Reduction of illegal marijuana activity and loss of state and local tax revenues. 3. Reduction of improper distribution due to enhanced verification and validation processes. Based on these considerations, it is our ask that the City Council amend the Ordinance to eliminate the ban on lawful deliveries in the city. Restricting lawful deliveries to patients will block access to Newport Beach patients who do not have or cannot utilize transportation resources. Without a delivery option, many Newport Beach patients will experience interruption in the delivery of medication that reduces pain, seizures, side effects of chemotherapy and furthers palliative care. We would be happy to speak with your about this issue on Monday or Tuesday prior to the Council meeting, as we feel this is an important issue for Newport Beach residents. Best, Arika Pierce Arika L. Pierce Principal 202.421.4099 apierce(a)-gidellc.com follow me @arika_pierce I @gidellc.com www..qidellc.com This message contains information from Gide, LLC which may be confidential and privileged. If you are not an intended recipient, please refrain from any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of this information and note that any such actions are prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error please notify Gide by email to admin cni gidellc.com and permanently destroy this email and any attachments. Thank you. Received After Agenda Printed November 24, 2015 Item No. 4 From: Harp, Aaron Sent: Monday, November 23, 2015 2:04 PM To: Brown, Leilani Subject: FW: medical marijuana From: Joseph R. Stack [mailto:joe@stackcpa.com] Sent: Monday, November 23, 2015 12:21 PM To: Dept - City Council Cc: Kiff, Dave Subject: medical marijuana Dear Honorable council members and Dave, A couple weeks ago I wrote to you to express my concern over a total ban on medical marijuana in the city of Newport Beach. My concern was that legitimate patients, who are unable to drive, might suffer under a complete ban. Since writing to you on the issue, I have been solicited by a dispensary to support them at the Council meeting. I am not inclined to do so because, although I have some concern for this small group of patients, I don't think I would go so far as to become an advocate on the dispensary's behalf. I don't think I mentioned in my previous contact that I have a six- year-old son at Newport Elementary, so I also have the natural concern of any parent for his children and public safety. Upon further reflection about how to balance public safety and legitimate patient's needs, an idea occurred to me that I wanted to share with you: It might be possible to include in the ordinance an exception for deliveries to patients within the city that have whatever it is they need to be in compliance with state law, and also, a written note from their physician stating that they cannot, or should not drive. If a dispensary was required to have such a doctor's note on file in order to qualify for the exception, I would think that the number of deliveries qualifying would be very small. This may not satisfy those on the dispensary's side of the argument, but if the concern is truly for those patients who cannot drive, it would show some measure of compassion for them. It seems to me that if the substance is truly medically useful and effective, it would be a very small thing to ask of patients to provide a doctor's note in the interest of public safety. It would also allow any physician to opine regarding the patient's ability to drive, without also putting them on the spot to recommend marijuana as a medicine. I hope you will give the idea some consideration. Sincerely, Joe Joseph R. Stack, CPA, MST King Solomon Mine, LLC Stack & Jagiello, LLP 430 32nd Street, Suite 100 Newport Beach, CA 92663 tel 949.723.1829.x315 fax 949.723.6129 www.slcpas.com