Sonoma Needs Dispensary

Why the Residents of Sonoma Deserve a Local Dispensary

Dispensaries are proving to be an asset to the communities they serve, as well as the larger community within which they operate. The Americans for Safe Access survey of local officials and monitoring of regulatory activity throughout the State of California has shown that, once working regulatory ordinances are in place, dispensaries are typically viewed favorably by public officials, neighbors, businesses, and the community at large, and that regulatory ordinances can and do improve an area, both socially and economically.

• Sonoma patients should not be forced to make a 2+ hour round trip drive to obtain safe, legal access to medicinal cannabis.

• Banning dispensaries places unnecessary hardship on patients with limited mobility and financial security.

• Prop 64 was supported by 62% of Sonoma voters, more than any other county city or the county itself.

• Dispensaries provide essential services that should be readily available within the community.

• A rigid policy that bans medical cannabis dispensaries deprives patients of the medicine promised them by the Compassionate Use Act.

Regulated dispensaries are:

• legal under California state law

• helping to revitalize neighborhoods by bringing new customers to neighboring businesses

• not a source of community complaints¹

Regulated dispensaries benefit the community by:

• providing access for the most seriously ill and injured

• offering a safer environment for patients than having to buy on the illicit market

• improving the health of patients through education and social support

• harm reduction for those dependent on narcotics (opioids) and over the counter drugs ²

• having a greater than average customer satisfaction rating for health care

• creating jobs

• generating tax revenue

• offering additional revenue through a retail component

• Being a valuable source of charitable donations and direct community outreach

Creating dispensary regulations combats crime because:

• dispensary security reduces crime in the vicinity

• street sales tend to decrease

• patients and operators are vigilant, any criminal activity gets reported to police