Care about Humboldt Cannabis Issues? Meeting Tonight Critical

The Eureka City Council has selected three applicants out of 25 for review and consideration for conditional use permits pertaining to one or more of the following: Cultivation and/or production facilities and/or distribution of medical cannabis within city limits.
The community will be given an opportunity to speak (two minute limit) on this important topic tomorrow evening, Tuesday, March 15, 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 531 K St., Eureka.
Those who wish to call-in to the Council Members, please keep your message short and simple, such as: “I support safe access to medical cannabis, and I encourage the City of Eureka to move forward with its Medical Cannabis Ordinance.”
Those addressing Council in person, please keep statements within the set minimum of two minutes.
Please note the information below for use in preparing statements for council, and to help supporters further understand the topic at hand.
Attached please find Americans for Safe Access (ASA) “Medical Cannabis Dispensing Collectives and Local Regulation” report. The ASA is an organization of medical professionals, scientists and patients helping patients. The report concludes with a section outlining elements for local officials to consider as they move forward with regulations for dispensaries.
Eureka is the County seat and home to the largest number of recorded, qualified 215 patients in the Humboldt, let’s show them we care! Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Kellie Dodds
Executive Director
Humboldt Bay Wellness

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skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

Thank you, Ms. K. and Ms. Dodds. Your kind letter has been cross-posted over at href=”http://humboldtherald.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/medical-pot-dispensaries-on-eureka-chopping-block/#comment-134979″>Heraldo’s Place.

Please be forewarned, the new Eureka City Council is somewhere between uninformed, conservatively skittish, or timid that they might break something, with the exception of Councilmember Linda Atkins who is informed, aware, and sharply ahead of the learning curve.
Good luck.

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

Thank you, Ms. K. and Ms. Dodds. Your kind letter has been cross-posted over at href=”http://humboldtherald.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/medical-pot-dispensaries-on-eureka-chopping-block/#comment-134979″>Heraldo’s Place.

Please be forewarned, the new Eureka City Council is somewhere between uninformed, conservatively skittish, or timid that they might break something, with the exception of Councilmember Linda Atkins who is informed, aware, and sharply ahead of the learning curve.
Good luck.

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

Sorry. Let me try again: posted at Heraldo’s Place.

(… and hopefully a few to many folks attend the Eureka City Council meeting tonight at 6pm.)

peace… skips

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

Sorry. Let me try again: posted at Heraldo’s Place.

(… and hopefully a few to many folks attend the Eureka City Council meeting tonight at 6pm.)

peace… skips

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

Reporting very accurate news surprisingly quickly, Heraldo here hit on all the points with equal brevity. The Eureka City Council will again meet this Thursday, March 17, at 4pm to discuss the matter further.

Yours truly was impressed with the entire City Council tonight: As other Council members leaned in to closely hear Mr. Madsen lead in his opening comments following the discussion by the Humboldt Bay Wellness, Natural Green Center, Compassionate Care dispensaries and 14 other proponent citizens, he detailed his overall questions and concerns with an open minded, careful, and honest clarity tempered by his usual good common sense and consideration. Mr. Newman, the surprising and sometimes doubtful wild card, surprisingly followed smartly in the same suit with admirable… compassion.

Ms. Brady and Ms. Ciarabellini, having previously done their educational homework along with the rest of the Council learning the issues of Medical Cannabis 101, conservatively asked cogent, articulate, and valid questions about product, site location, signage, and tax revenue that were forthright and reasonable. Ms. Atkins was her usual informed, aware, and very ethical self. Mayor Jager– well, God bless him, Frank was also his usual self, too. He smiled. Twice.

The 14 members who previously spoke in favor of the medical marijuana issue did a fine job: members of the community, some with serious ailments, some not; some your next door neighbor, Father, Grandmother, or perhaps your dearest Mum, all blending into the fabric of the good community by and large. What wasn’t represented were the derelicts, scoundrels, bumpkins, druggies and stoners, baboons and buffoons, and the nebulous toke-smoking bong-drunk ne’er-do-wells who simply weren’t in attendance. No, these folks present were your good, common, hardworking folks who believe in compassionate care, use, and access for the very ill or hurt.

Ms. Kellie Dodds, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Leonard, the encyclopedic and most civic-minded Mr. Custer, and many others represented Humboldt well.

Whatever the Eureka City Council decides this Thursday, yours truly believes the issue is in good hands. This Council showed they’re working together, reading their material and talking with constituents, discussing the issue intelligently, asking all the right questions of import, and (perhaps) willing to move past set opinions and prejudices of times past with good critical decision making skills, a sense of justice, fairness, and compassion.

This City Council is taking the prudent course of planning by setting rules, guidelines, and policies of medical marijuana by the taking the small, careful, and well-thought-out procedural steps and review we saw tonight.

Don’t worry Council: this will turn out alright, nothing will be broken, nothing will go terribly awry or sideways. It’ll be OK. Especially for the very sick. Skippy, during the nearly 6 hour Council meeting tonight, was very impressed– and proud. Thank you, everyone, for both your courage and kind compassion.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  skippy

Skippy, Thank you for this update. I woke up this morning wondering how things went.

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

Reporting very accurate news surprisingly quickly, Heraldo here hit on all the points with equal brevity. The Eureka City Council will again meet this Thursday, March 17, at 4pm to discuss the matter further.

Yours truly was impressed with the entire City Council tonight: As other Council members leaned in to closely hear Mr. Madsen lead in his opening comments following the discussion by the Humboldt Bay Wellness, Natural Green Center, Compassionate Care dispensaries and 14 other proponent citizens, he detailed his overall questions and concerns with an open minded, careful, and honest clarity tempered by his usual good common sense and consideration. Mr. Newman, the surprising and sometimes doubtful wild card, surprisingly followed smartly in the same suit with admirable… compassion.

Ms. Brady and Ms. Ciarabellini, having previously done their educational homework along with the rest of the Council learning the issues of Medical Cannabis 101, conservatively asked cogent, articulate, and valid questions about product, site location, signage, and tax revenue that were forthright and reasonable. Ms. Atkins was her usual informed, aware, and very ethical self. Mayor Jager– well, God bless him, Frank was also his usual self, too. He smiled. Twice.

The 14 members who previously spoke in favor of the medical marijuana issue did a fine job: members of the community, some with serious ailments, some not; some your next door neighbor, Father, Grandmother, or perhaps your dearest Mum, all blending into the fabric of the good community by and large. What wasn’t represented were the derelicts, scoundrels, bumpkins, druggies and stoners, baboons and buffoons, and the nebulous toke-smoking bong-drunk ne’er-do-wells who simply weren’t in attendance. No, these folks present were your good, common, hardworking folks who believe in compassionate care, use, and access for the very ill or hurt.

Ms. Kellie Dodds, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Leonard, the encyclopedic and most civic-minded Mr. Custer, and many others represented Humboldt well.

Whatever the Eureka City Council decides this Thursday, yours truly believes the issue is in good hands. This Council showed they’re working together, reading their material and talking with constituents, discussing the issue intelligently, asking all the right questions of import, and (perhaps) willing to move past set opinions and prejudices of times past with good critical decision making skills, a sense of justice, fairness, and compassion.

This City Council is taking the prudent course of planning by setting rules, guidelines, and policies of medical marijuana by the taking the small, careful, and well-thought-out procedural steps and review we saw tonight.

Don’t worry Council: this will turn out alright, nothing will be broken, nothing will go terribly awry or sideways. It’ll be OK. Especially for the very sick. Skippy, during the nearly 6 hour Council meeting tonight, was very impressed– and proud. Thank you, everyone, for both your courage and kind compassion.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  skippy

Skippy, Thank you for this update. I woke up this morning wondering how things went.

Staff
Member
13 years ago

http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_17624503 is the Times Standard’s look at events.

Staff
Member
13 years ago

http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_17624503 is the Times Standard’s look at events.

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

If you’re interested in this thread or reading more about the local subject, yours truly suggests the latest North Coast Journal cover article by the capable Ryan Burns, “Truce: After Decades of Trench Warfare, Pot Growers and the Local Governments are Making Nice” (Sorry, the article link isn’t up as of this writing– but the print copy is available.)

The article notes many individuals on the forefront of this issue. One colorful Humboldt mover and shaker mentioned, Charley Custer, summed up his thoughts as such:

“We really believe in open communication, and we hope that more and more people will be talking with their friends and neighbors about how our economy will evolve here, Custer said. “If we can get marijuana out into the open– get it accepted as a fact of our lives– we’ll all be more comfortable figuring out how to work with it for the benefit of everyone.”

Thank you. Skippy believes Mr. Custer’s premise for open communication is the good and rational starting point for all.

peace… skips

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

If you’re interested in this thread or reading more about the local subject, yours truly suggests the latest North Coast Journal cover article by the capable Ryan Burns, “Truce: After Decades of Trench Warfare, Pot Growers and the Local Governments are Making Nice” (Sorry, the article link isn’t up as of this writing– but the print copy is available.)

The article notes many individuals on the forefront of this issue. One colorful Humboldt mover and shaker mentioned, Charley Custer, summed up his thoughts as such:

“We really believe in open communication, and we hope that more and more people will be talking with their friends and neighbors about how our economy will evolve here, Custer said. “If we can get marijuana out into the open– get it accepted as a fact of our lives– we’ll all be more comfortable figuring out how to work with it for the benefit of everyone.”

Thank you. Skippy believes Mr. Custer’s premise for open communication is the good and rational starting point for all.

peace… skips

Staff
Member
13 years ago

Ryan is an excellent reporter. And Charlie is absolutely right! Thank you. Hopefully, the link will be up soon.

Staff
Member
13 years ago

Ryan is an excellent reporter. And Charlie is absolutely right! Thank you. Hopefully, the link will be up soon.

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

As a kind reminder:
The Eureka City Council will meet today, Thursday, March 17, at 4pm to discuss the medical cannabis issue, Conditional Use Permits, and the two chosen facilities further– and vote.

(To note, Humboldt Bay Wellness was not selected. Kellie, I’m sorry. You did a good job. Please keep the faith– and keep on trying. It’ll come.)

peace… skips

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

As a kind reminder:
The Eureka City Council will meet today, Thursday, March 17, at 4pm to discuss the medical cannabis issue, Conditional Use Permits, and the two chosen facilities further– and vote.

(To note, Humboldt Bay Wellness was not selected. Kellie, I’m sorry. You did a good job. Please keep the faith– and keep on trying. It’ll come.)

peace… skips

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

Kym, for you and readers the link of Ryan Burns’ article in North Coast Journal is up:
“Truce: After Decades of Trench Warfare, Pot Growers and the Local Government are Making Nice”

It’s a good read.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  skippy

Thank you!

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

Kym, for you and readers the link of Ryan Burns’ article in North Coast Journal is up:
“Truce: After Decades of Trench Warfare, Pot Growers and the Local Government are Making Nice”

It’s a good read.

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

“I’m shocked. What was a fair amount of goodwill present at our first meeting has turned into a wholesale changing of this ordinance,” Council member Linda Atkins sharply said after Community Development Director Sidnie Olson’s opening summary for the Eureka City Council’s Special Session this afternoon. “We’ll be here all night discussing changes if that’s what you want; this is the 10th meeting on the cannabis ordinance and we can have 3 or 4 more if you wish. This is stalling, we’re nitpicking the details to death, we have other priorities, we’re wasting time,” Atkins continued. “Use the ordinance, move it forward, send it to the Planning Commission.”

With this rebuke and rocky start in hand, the City Council lunged forward detailing locations, non-illuminating signage and size, packaging, cultivation, language revisions, and the controversial policy of ‘no-cash’ transactions of the proposed cannabis ordinance after hearing comments from 8 constituents (Matt, Mr. Leonard, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Drayton; Brenda, Carla, Ms. Dodds and Ms. Ritter).

“This Council doesn’t need micromanaging but some issues need to be addressed,” Lance Madsen said. Council Member Melinda Ciarabellini said she wishes “to insure a framework of guidelines. I have to be comfortable with my constituents. Monitoring and independent auditing must be considered,” she said.

Council Member Newman, sparing and brisk in his comments, flexibly yielded on signage, non-cash transactions, and surprisingly inviting Humboldt Bay Wellness Center back to the bargaining table after their dismissal two days ago– but insisting the Council have the ability to revoke or suspend licensing of the proposed cannabis facilities, adding, “I think we can come to agreement.” Council Member Marian Brady agreed to most points, having her tape measure available to deduce necessary signage area as needed. Mayor Jager noted, “We can move on, we’re talking two signs here, not hundreds.”

After clarifying language and policy intentions with Ms. Olson, the Eureka City Council finally moved ahead in their umpteenth session reviewing and revising draft modifications to the medical Cannabis Ordinance and directing the Community Development Department sending it forward to the Planning Commission for action. After that, the ordinance will return back to Council later in April for their approval– or not?

With this recommendation in hand, the Eureka City Council, City Manager Tyson and Knight, Attorney Bragg, City Clerk Powell, and, in her last and final session before the Public and Council, the thoroughly competent and exceptionally astute Sidnie Olson, AICP and Community Development Department Director of our Fair City for 14 fine years, adjourned shortly before 6pm after nearly two hours of a special Thursday session and walked out the doors– to enjoy the remainder of Saint Patrick’s Day and all good things Irish.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  skippy

Skippy, I hesitate to say this as I will be the loser for not having your commentary here, but–you should have a blog. Excellent coverage of the cannabis ordinance question.

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago
Reply to  Staff

Thanks, Kym, for your kind words and patience. Sorry for posting the long commentary. Afterwards, I realized a link would’ve sufficed and been more polite… I don’t want to be that houseguest who overstays their welcome. I’m learning. Looking up to the high standard and example you and others set. On that same note, Thadeus and Donna at the T-S are very aware of your excellent reporting efforts on the Kettenpom matter recently.

Here’s a side report on one of the dispensary happenings, the Natural Green Health Center, at the Eureka City Council Special Session yesterday. Readers should find it informative and positive.

Longwind also had informative comments beforehand about ‘shaded parcels.’

Tra, always love your comments and wicked humor. Thanks.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  skippy

thank you for keeping us up on this. You aren’t overstaying your welcome.

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago

“I’m shocked. What was a fair amount of goodwill present at our first meeting has turned into a wholesale changing of this ordinance,” Council member Linda Atkins sharply said after Community Development Director Sidnie Olson’s opening summary for the Eureka City Council’s Special Session this afternoon. “We’ll be here all night discussing changes if that’s what you want; this is the 10th meeting on the cannabis ordinance and we can have 3 or 4 more if you wish. This is stalling, we’re nitpicking the details to death, we have other priorities, we’re wasting time,” Atkins continued. “Use the ordinance, move it forward, send it to the Planning Commission.”

With this rebuke and rocky start in hand, the City Council lunged forward detailing locations, non-illuminating signage and size, packaging, cultivation, language revisions, and the controversial policy of ‘no-cash’ transactions of the proposed cannabis ordinance after hearing comments from 8 constituents (Matt, Mr. Leonard, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Drayton; Brenda, Carla, Ms. Dodds and Ms. Ritter).

“This Council doesn’t need micromanaging but some issues need to be addressed,” Lance Madsen said. Council Member Melinda Ciarabellini said she wishes “to insure a framework of guidelines. I have to be comfortable with my constituents. Monitoring and independent auditing must be considered,” she said.

Council Member Newman, sparing and brisk in his comments, flexibly yielded on signage, non-cash transactions, and surprisingly inviting Humboldt Bay Wellness Center back to the bargaining table after their dismissal two days ago– but insisting the Council have the ability to revoke or suspend licensing of the proposed cannabis facilities, adding, “I think we can come to agreement.” Council Member Marian Brady agreed to most points, having her tape measure available to deduce necessary signage area as needed. Mayor Jager noted, “We can move on, we’re talking two signs here, not hundreds.”

After clarifying language and policy intentions with Ms. Olson, the Eureka City Council finally moved ahead in their umpteenth session reviewing and revising draft modifications to the medical Cannabis Ordinance and directing the Community Development Department sending it forward to the Planning Commission for action. After that, the ordinance will return back to Council later in April for their approval– or not?

With this recommendation in hand, the Eureka City Council, City Manager Tyson and Knight, Attorney Bragg, City Clerk Powell, and, in her last and final session before the Public and Council, the thoroughly competent and exceptionally astute Sidnie Olson, AICP and Community Development Department Director of our Fair City for 14 fine years, adjourned shortly before 6pm after nearly two hours of a special Thursday session and walked out the doors– to enjoy the remainder of Saint Patrick’s Day and all good things Irish.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  skippy

Skippy, I hesitate to say this as I will be the loser for not having your commentary here, but–you should have a blog. Excellent coverage of the cannabis ordinance question.

skippy
Guest
skippy
13 years ago
Reply to  Staff

Thanks, Kym, for your kind words and patience. Sorry for posting the long commentary. Afterwards, I realized a link would’ve sufficed and been more polite… I don’t want to be that houseguest who overstays their welcome. I’m learning. Looking up to the high standard and example you and others set. On that same note, Thadeus and Donna at the T-S are very aware of your excellent reporting efforts on the Kettenpom matter recently.

Here’s a side report on one of the dispensary happenings, the Natural Green Health Center, at the Eureka City Council Special Session yesterday. Readers should find it informative and positive.

Longwind also had informative comments beforehand about ‘shaded parcels.’

Tra, always love your comments and wicked humor. Thanks.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  skippy

thank you for keeping us up on this. You aren’t overstaying your welcome.

tra
Guest
tra
13 years ago

I hope that none of them went out and bought some irish whiskey or Guinness beer with — gasp! — cash!

tra
Guest
tra
13 years ago

I hope that none of them went out and bought some irish whiskey or Guinness beer with — gasp! — cash!