San Diego City Council to Vote on Dispensary Ordinance in Days

By Eugene Davidovich, Americans for Safe Access

Opposition to the proposed ordinance mounts in the city as Stop The Ban campaign collects over 3,700 letters of opposition to the ordinance from residents in San Diego.

On March 28, the San Diego City Council will be voting on legislation governing San Diego’s medical cannabis facilities. As currently written, the proposed legislation would force all medical facilities currently operating in the city to close and as a result will negatively impact the most vulnerable members of our community.

Led by the San Diego Chapter of Americans for Safe Access and Canvass for a Cause, a coalition of veterans groups, church groups, LGBT groups, policy reformers, student groups, business groups and community activists have all united in opposition to the ordinance as currently written.

Over the last four weeks, the ‘Stop the Ban’ campaign has reached out to over 10,000 voting residents in the City of San Diego and found the overwhelming majority of San Diegans support dispensaries, reasonable access, and are opposed to the restrictions in this ordinance. Over 3,700 of them actually took the time to write letters to their council members voicing opposition to the ordinance.

The ‘Stop the Ban’ campaign can guaranteed that if the City Council approves this ordinance as currently written, they will have done so over the largest public opposition to an upcoming ordinance in the city’s history.

Candlelight Vigil – 3/25

On March 25th at 6:30pm join the campaign for a candlelight vigil at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center Garden (2115 Park Boulevard San Diego CA) where clergy, patients, and concerned citizens will be holding candles in solidarity with all the patients who will suffer if the ordinance passes as currently written.

Rally and City Council Meeting – 3/28

On March 28th at 12 (noon) the campaign is calling for a rally and march starting at the Federal Courthouse (940 Front St.) and ending at the San Diego City Hall (202 C St.). At 2pm everyone from the rally will be heading up to the 12th floor of the City Hall to testify against this ordinance and urge the City Council to adopt the following amendments:

Allow for all commercial and for all industrial uses to be included in the proposed ordinance.
Adjust the sensitivity use restrictions to comply with state law (AB2650); 600 ft from schools.
Allow Medical Cannabis Facilities to operate “by right” identical to land use requirements imposed on pharmacies.

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