In my door-to-door campaigning, voters mention issues related to medical marijuana and illegal grow houses more than any other issue.
I voted for proposition 215 and support compassionate use of medical marijuana. It is helpful in a number of serious medical conditions including loss of appetite and nausea related to cancer treatment. It is often helpful in relieving chronic pain.
We on the Planning Commission have just completed a set of proposed regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries (now called "cooperatives and collectives") that we are submitting to the City Council. These regulations will allow dispensaries to operate fully in the open as legal businesses under clear and consistent rules. Marijuana sold by the dispensaries must be grown by the dispensary or by a member of the cooperative. Dispensaries will be prohibited from buying any marijuana, but may accept it without monetary payment from members of the collective.
I am especially concerned about large-scale, illegal marijuana grow houses and the many negative impacts these are having in terms of fire danger, the fact that the houses are no longer being used as places to live and potential violence that accompanies any large-scale illegal drug business. My goal is to have the Arcata police, acting as part of the Humboldt County Drug Task Force without federal involvement, investigate and, where warranted, shut down large-scale grow houses and get this dangerous activity out of our neighborhoods. Arcata currently has one specially-trained officer assigned to the task force. I will work to have one more Arcata police officer assigned to the task force. An important reason I support Measure G is to make sure that the Arcata police force is fully funded.
Ultimately, I support legalization of marijuana both as a medication and as a recreational drug. I believe the negative effects of prohibition outweigh the positive.