City Council to Vote on Cannabis Regulations Tuesday 11/7

The city council will consider adopting an ordinance that will open the door to cannabis-related businesses on the island at Tuesday’s council meeting. Due to the urging of the school board, PTSA, and community members, the council did agree to increase the buffer zone for dispensaries to 1,000 feet away from child-sensitive uses vs. the minimum 600 ft. buffer recommended by the state. Staff report and links to attachments.

The ordinance will:

• allow two medical marijuana dispensaries – see map – solid red areas are commercial locations beyond the 1,000 feet barrier from schools, youth centers, and licensed day care
• allow one cultivation permit (license #7) for wholesale selling seeds and clones
• allow deliveries from permitted dispensary licensee holders
• allow manufacturing – allow up to 4, zoned for manufacturing
• allow testing laboratories (2 allowed)
• allows cannabis use in dispensaries
• adds marijuana smoking/vaping to the city's existing secondhand smoke ordinance which prohibits smoking in all multi-unit housing, parks, and commercial business districts
• prohibit all outdoor cultivation – both commercial and personal
• prohibit recreational marijuana sales

State law prohibits smoking and vaping marijuana wherever tobacco smoking is not allowed, including all indoor workplaces and public places. In addition, state law prohibits smoking/vaping marijuana in any outdoor public places like parks and sidewalks.

State law does allow, under specific conditions, adults 21 and over to grow up to six marijuana plants indoors. Landlords may, however, prohibit this activity in rental properties. What is Legal?

All council members were in agreement that cannabis use for youth may have negative health and mental health consequences for youth. The state has summarized these in their Youth and Cannabis fact sheet. It remains to be seen how the introduction of cannabis businesses in Alameda will impact our youth although youth cannabis use in the United States is highest in the states that have legalized it, either medical or recreational.

Recently, a study of 1200 schizophrenics found that the individuals who had used cannabis in their youth were diagnosed with psychosis 10 years earlier than their non-cannabis using counterparts.

In 1999, addiction scientists compiled a chart of the addictive potential of commonly used substances. At that time, the THC content of marijuana was fairly low at about 4% -- it is now estimated at much higher given selective breeding for potency. While it appears that only 8% of marijuana users may have become addicted in 1999, according to the 2017 National Academies of Science study, that number goes up to 17% for those under 21, and up to 25-50% of youth weekly-daily users.