Misleading Medical Marijuana Map Released by City Council in Advance of Vote
Stop the Ban coalition responds to City Councils misleading medical marijuana zoning Map.
In advance of a City Council vote on an ordinance which would regulate medical cannabis facilities, the San Diego City Council published a map as part of their legislative packet which shows areas where a collective could be located in San Diego under the ordinance as written (https://dockets.sandiego.gov/sirepub/cache/2/mfpoui45gdvx1aznful0lkek/31452503242011043702884.PDF).
While we contend that even this map reflects a seriously restrictive ordinance that harms patients and communities, we were distressed to learn that this map is largely inaccurate and misinforms the public as to what degree of access this ordinance will allow.
As you can see from the map, various “sensitivity uses” such as schools, child care centers, and libraries are illustrated on the map. However, under this ordinance medical cannabis facilities must also be located 1000 feet away from churches and youth-serving facilities. No churches or youth-serving facilities are included on the map.
Nearly every available zone on the map is extremely limited, or completely excluded, by the presence of churches and youth-serving facilities within them.
We have shared our concerns with the City Council and were told that they are unable to create a map which would accurately reflect the limited access this ordinance would create. We are deeply troubled that in lieu of an accurate map the City Council have published a map which drastically misrepresents to the people of San Diego the impact of this ordinance.
The Stop the Ban campaign – a coalition campaign of LGBT groups, Veterans groups, Patient’s advocate, Physicians, Clergy, Business Groups, Community groups, and concerned citizens – have mailed over 3700 letters to the City Council from the people of San Diego urging the City Council to make the ordinance less restrictive in what is likely the largest letter writing campaign in San Diego history.
The Stop the Ban campaign calls on the City Council to create a map which accurately reflects access to medical cannabis under this ordinance as written and to amend the current ordinance to guarantee safe, local access to medical cannabis for patients with a valid doctor’s recommendation.
