Source: http://www.smartvoter.org/2004/11/02/ca/alm/meas/R/
Timestamp: 2017-04-23 19:49:11
Document Index: 218994069

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1']

Measure R: Medical Marijuana Dispensary Permits - Alameda County, CA
24,958 /
25,160 /
Shall the City's ordinances be amended to require the City to issue a permit to medical marijuana dispensaries
as a matter of right and without a public hearing, eliminate limits on the amounts of medical marijuana
possessed by patients or caregivers; and establish a peer review group for medical marijuana collectives?
Financial Implications: Possible increase in law enforcement costs and possible zoning related cost savings
from change in public hearing requirement for marijuana dispensary permits.
This measure would amend the Berkeley Municipal Code to have the following material effects:
1. The ordinance would eliminate the existing limits on the amount of medical marijuana a qualified patient or primary caregiver can possess and cultivate, which are currently 2.5 pounds of dried cannabis (if grown outdoors) or 1.5 pounds of dried cannabis (if grown indoors), and up to 10 cannabis plants (indoors or outdoors) at any one time, unless a medical doctor authorizes the patient to posses or cultivate more. The amendment retains but modifies the current limit of 10 outdoor cannabis plants on a single parcel, to only count plants that are visible from other property.
2. The ordinance would eliminate the existing limits of 12.5 pounds of dried cannabis and 50 cannabis plants that a collective composed of qualified patients and primary caregivers can possess, and provide instead that such a collective may possess a reasonable quantity of dried cannabis and cannabis plants to meet the medical needs of patient members as long as no more cannabis is accumulated than is necessary to meet such needs.
3. The ordinance would establish a Peer Review Committee composed to certify that any new cannabis collective or dispensary has a strategy to meet safety and operational compliance standards established by the Peer Review Committee, and to refer dispensaries found to be in willful or ongoing violation of the standards to the City for action. No such committee is currently required by law.
4. The ordinance would require the City to deputize individuals operating collectives or dispensaries, who are on the Peer Review Committee, as "Drug Control Officers" for the purpose of providing them with immunity under federal law 21 U.S.C. Section 885(d), and reasonably accommodate the provision of medical cannabis to patients and their primary caregivers within 30 days if access to cannabis is interrupted by federal law enforcement activity. There is no similar obligation imposed by current law.
5. The ordinance would provide that qualified patients may cultivate medical cannabis in their residence or on their property in compliance with BMC Chapter 12.26 governing medical cannabis protocols, as amended by this initiative, without securing a use permit. This is declaratory of existing law.
6. The ordinance would establish that medical cannabis dispensaries in compliance with BMC Chapter 12.26 governing medical cannabis protocols, as amended by this initiative, would be permitted as of right, without the need for a public hearing to secure a use permit, as a Retail Sales Use under the City's existing zoning ordinance, BMC Title 23, in districts where such uses are otherwise permitted. Under current law such uses would be subject to a use permit and thus require a public hearing.
Financial Implications Uncertain possible increase in law enforcement costs if the additional marijuana permitted result in robberies of dispensaries or requires other law enforcement response. Uncertain limited cost savings as a result of changing the permit requirement for medical marijuana dispensaries from a use permit requiring a public hearing to a zoning permit issued as a matter of right if the dispensary otherwise meets zoning standards.
Berkeley's medical marijuana law is outdated and needs revision. Measure R, the Patients Access to Medical Cannabis Act of 2004 (PAMCA), will bring Berkeley's law into compliance with state law and recent court rulings. This measure was written by patients, doctors, caregivers, and concerned citizens to protect patients' rights and safeguard access to medical marijuana in Berkeley.
PAMCA will (1) replace Berkeley's arbitrary limits on medical marijuana with those supported by doctors and based on personal medical need, (2) establish a formal peer-review committee to publish and enforce protocols at local dispensaries, (3) create a review process and zoning certificate for medical marijuana dispensaries, and (4) provide a forum for community input and oversight into medical marijuana implementation in Berkeley. Unlike the current law, PAMCA contains strong language prohibiting for profit cultivation and diversion for non-medical use.
In 1996, 86% of Berkeley voters approved the statewide medical marijuana initiative, Proposition 215. Since then, the Berkeley City Council, Health Department, and Zoning Department have been reluctant to implement this law. The local medical marijuana ordinance (BMC 12.26), passed by the City Council in 2001, is one of the most restrictive in the state. It places both patients and caregivers at risk of arrest, and leaves the city of Berkeley vulnerable to lawsuits and costly legal challenges. It passed against the recommendation of the City Health Commission and Police Review Commission, and was actively opposed by local doctors, medical marijuana patients, and their caregivers.
Patients and caregivers need your help now to change this outdated law. Protect safe access to medical marijuana in Berkeley. Vote yes on the Patients Access to Medical Cannabis Act, Measure R.
s/JAMES BLAIR, Patient Advocate and Measure Proponent
s/CHARLES PAPPAS, Berkeley Medical Cannabis Patient
s/DR. TOD MIKURIYA, Berkeley Physician and Scientist
s/DR. FRANK LUCIDO, Berkeley Physician
s/OMAR FIGUROA, ESQ., Berkeley Defense Attorney
We all want to ensure that patients get their medicine and have no problems acquiring it. There have been no reports that Berkeley's framework for dispensing medical cannabis is causing problems.
Berkeley's ordinances are very close to Oakland's. Berkeley requires that medical marijuana outlets go through the City's standard permit-approval process. Oakland requires similar business-license approval.
Measure R would eliminate Berkeley's approval process entirely.
Currently, the City can review and approve the location and operation of a new outlet, and place conditions on its operation. Measure R would discard this approval entirely! We've had a dangerous experience with one outlet, where several armed robberies, with guns, happened in a Berkeley neighborhood.
This measure would allow the medical marijuana outlets themselves, using "peer review," to approve new applications and under this measure the City would have no choice but to permit an "approved" outlet.
We need a review process the City can control.
Measure R would remove all limits on the amounts of medical marijuana a patient or an outlet could have on hand. Berkeley allows a patient up to 2.5 lbs. of medical marijuana at any time. Oakland's limit is 3 lbs.
If this measure passes Berkeley will have no limits at all.
The combination of removing limits on the amounts and eliminating City review and approval of new outlets, is too drastic a change.
This measure simply goes too far. Join eight City Council members and PLEASE VOTE NO ON MEASURE R.
s/DAVIDA COADY, M.D., Executive Director, Options Recovery Services
s/SANTIAGO CASAL, Director, Cesar Chavez Solar Calendar Project
s/BARRY KRISBERG, President, National Council on Crime and Delinquency
s/CARRIE SPRAGUE, Member, Zoning Adjustments Board
s/REV. GORDON CHOYCE, Pastor, Missionary Church of God in Christ
RETAIN CITY OVERSIGHT - VOTE NO ON MEASURE R
Berkeley supports medical marijuana, and our existing medical cannabis outlets, but Measure R takes us in the wrong direction.
Measure R would exempt new medical marijuana outlets from City review and approval, and that is bad for Berkeley.
Berkeley voted overwhelmingly for Prop. 215 to make medical marijuana legal in California. Our support for patient needs in Berkeley is strong, but so is our support for safe neighborhoods through our permitting process. Businesses in Berkeley are required to go through a City review and approval process. Medical marijuana outlets should be no exception.
Medical marijuana outlets operate as businesses where cannabis is bought and sold to caregivers and patients at market rates. Berkeley's three existing outlets have operated responsibly and are well-managed. However, a former club had several armed invasion robberies and was shut down. The City's use-permit process will ensure that new outlets that apply to locate in Berkeley are well-managed and operated responsibly.
By law a patient in Berkeley can have a maximum of 2.5 lbs of medical marijuana and a club can have on hand a maximum of 12.5 pounds. Measure R erases these limits entirely.
The combination of large amounts of marijuana readily on hand and no City review or permitting process presents a dangerous combination for Berkeley.
We support medical marijuana within reasonable limits to ensure adequate supplies for those in need. Berkeley can have medical marijuana for patients without compromising the safety of our neighborhoods and exposing us to more crime. Retain City oversight and our use permit process.
Join former City Manager Weldon Rucker and David Manson, Executive Director of Berkeley Boosters.
s/TED GARTNER, Channing Way Neighbors
s/JANET LEVENSON, Teacher, Berkeley Unified School District
s/MAUDELLE SHIREK, Vice Mayor, City of Berkeley
SUPPORT ACCESS TO SAFE MEDICINE - VOTE YES ON MEASURE R
Berkeley's current medical marijuana law is not working. Patients and caregivers need your assistance now to guarantee access to safe medicine.
Patients Access to Medical Cannabis Act of 2004 (PAMCA) will:
regulate Berkeley medical marijuana dispensaries, which currently operate without formal oversight
establish a Zoning process for dispensaries that includes citizen input and allows the City to close problem locations,
set non-arbitrary plant limits supported by doctors and based on patients' medical needs,
bring the outdated Berkeley law into compliance with state medical marijuana laws and federal and state court rulings,
allow citizens to take the lead on implementing the medical marijuana law
Currently, patients must violate local law to assure safe access to medical marijuana. The City has already been successfully sued after arresting a local patient for growing more than the 10 plant limit. This cost Berkeley taxpayers $30,000.
Arbitrary limits on plant numbers are not scientific. There is no established average yield for a cannabis plant. Likewise, personal use patterns vary widely between patients. That is why no specific limits were set in Proposition 215.
Berkeley's dispensaries are safe and effective. There has been absolutely no increase in crime associated with medical cannabis. These fears are unfounded.
It has been eight years since Proposition 215, the medical cannabis law, passed statewide, and Berkeley patients are still at risk of arrest. Protect your neighbors and neighborhoods. Vote yes on Measure R.
s/ANGEL McCLARY RAICH, Medical Cannabis Patient
s/DEBBY GOLDSBERRY, Berkeley Patients Group
s/DONALD O. TOLBERT, Patient Advocate
s/JAMES BLAIR, Proponent
THE PATIENTS ACCESS TO MEDICAL CANNABIS ACT OF 2004
The People of the City of Berkeley do hereby enact as follows:
SECTION 1 TITLE This initiative shall be known and may be cited as the Patients Access to Medical Cannabis Act of 2004.
SECTION2 FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS
G. There are no scientifically valid studies that determine the yield of medicine based on specific numbers of plants or the quantity of medication necessary for a patient. Berkeley's arbitrarily-low cultivation limits place undue burdens on local patients, and therefore require revision based on patient's needs.
H. The People of the City of Berkeley further find and declare that we enact this initiative pursuant to the powers reserved to the State of California, the City of Berkeley, and its people under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
SECTION3 AMENDMENTS TO BERKELEY MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 12.26
Chapter 12.26 of the Berkeley Municipal Code is hereby amended to read:
Section 12.26.010 Purposes.
The purpose of this chapter is to implement California Health and Safety Code Section 11362.5, known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. The Compassionate Use Act is the state law removing state law penalties for qualified patients, and primary care givers to those patients, for possession and cultivation of a personal amount of medical medical cannabis for qualified patients. This chapter is intended:
A. To help ensure that seriously ill Berkeley residents can obtain and use cannabis for medical purposes where that medical use has been deemed appropriate and recommended or approved by a physician who has determined that the patient's health would benefit from the use of cannabis in the treatment of cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraines, or any other serious illness or condition for which cannabis provides relief.
B. To help ensure that qualified patients and their primary caregivers who obtain or cultivate cannabis solely for the qualified patient's medical treatment with the recommendation or approval of a physician are not subject to criminal prosecution or sanction.
C. To encourage the federal and state governments to implement a plan to provide for the safe and affordable distribution of medical cannabis to patients whose medical doctors approve or recommend medical cannabis to treat a serious illness or condition. (Ord. 6620-NS § 1, 2001)
Section 12.26.030 Definitions.
A. "Cannabis" shall have the same meaning as the definition of "Marijuana" provided in California Health and Safety Code Section 11018 at this time, but if that definition is amended by state law in the future, as amended. Currently, under Health and Safety Code Section 11018, "marijuana means all parts of the plant cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds or resin. It does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination."
B. "Qualified patient" shall mean a person who has a written or oral recommendation or approval from a licensed medical doctor to use cannabis for medical purposes.
C. "Primary caregiver" shall mean the individual person or persons designated by a qualified patient, provided that said individual person or persons has consistently assumed responsibility for the housing, health, or safety of the qualified patient.
D. "Medical cannabis collective" shall mean a cooperative, affiliation, association, or collective of persons comprised exclusively and entirely of qualified patients and the primary caregivers of those patients, the purpose of which is to provide education, referral, or network services to qualified patients, and to facilitate or assist in the cultivation and manufacture or acquisition of medical cannabis for qualified patients. (Ord. 6620-NS § 1, 2001)
Section 12.26.040 Medical cannabis collectives.
B. Restriction on Membership. Membership in a medical cannabis collective must be restricted to qualified patients and their primary caregivers. However, primary caregivers shall not be allowed to obtain cannabis for their own personal use. In addition, a primary caregiver cannot be a member of a medical cannabis collective, unless the primary caregiver's qualified patient is also a member.
D. Amount of Dried Cannabis and Plants. Medical Cannabis Collectives may possess a reasonable quantity of dried cannabis and cannabis plants to meet the needs of their patient members. Medical Cannabis Collectives shall not accumulate more cannabis than is necessary to meet the personal medical needs of their Qualified Patients.
D. Amount of Dried Cannabis and Plants. The limits on quantity of dried medical cannabis and cannabis plants set forth in this chapter for qualified patients are not increased by membership in a medical cannabis collective. Medical cannabis collectives are subject to the same quantity limits on possession of dried medical cannabis and limits on the number of cannabis plants that are set forth in this chapter, multiplied by the number of qualified patients in the collective, but are also subject to maximum cap amounts set forth below. Thus, if a medical cannabis collective has five qualified patients, then the total amount of dried medical cannabis that the medical cannabis collective can possess is 7.5 pounds of cannabis cultivated indoors or 12.5 pounds of cannabis cultivated outdoors, minus the amount of dried medical cannabis that each qualified patient and/or his or her primary caregiver possesses individually. In addition, a medical cannabis collective cannot possess more than 12.5 pounds of dried cannabis at any one time, regardless of the number of members. Similarly, if a medical cannabis collective has five qualified patients, then the total amount of cannabis plants that the medical cannabis collective can possess is 50 in compliance with Section 12.26.040(E) of this chapter, minus the number of cannabis plants that each quali- fied patient and/or his or her primary caregiver possesses individually. In addition, a medical cannabis collective cannot cultivate more than 50 cannabis plants at any one time, regardless of the number of members.
F. Size of Indoor Cannabis Gardens That Are Not Visible. A medical cannabis collective can cultivate 10 cannabis plants per qualified patient up to a maximum of 50 cannabis plants total at one time, provided however, that no more than 10 of those plants are planted outdoors (excluding secure rooftops or balconies that are not visible from other buildings or land) or in any place that is visible with the naked eye from any public or other private property. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as creating an exemption for the cultivator or cultivators of any such cannabis garden from complying with any permit or other requirements imposed by local law that may be applicable. (Ord. 6620-NS § 1, 2001)
F. Restriction on Excessive Cultivation and Possession. Nothing in this Section shall authorize any individual, organization, affiliation, collective, cooperative or other entity to (1) cultivate or possess a quantity of medical cannabis that is inappropriate for the personal medical need of the patient(s) for whom it is intended; or (2) cultivate or possess any quantity of cannabis for nonmedical purposes. (Ord. 6620-NS § 1, 2001)
Section 12.26.050 Availability in pharmacies.
To encourage the standardization of medical cannabis, the City of Berkeley urges the federal government to reschedule cannabis so that it may be made available to qualified patients through legally licensed pharmacies and urges the state government to urge the federal government to do so as well. (Ord. 6620-NS § 1, 2001)
Section 12.26.060 Quality control encouraged.
The City of Berkeley strongly encourages all qualified patients, primary caregivers, and medical cannabis collectives to consult the available cannabis cultivation literature to ensure that the medical cannabis lawfully cultivated under state law is free of undesired toxins or molds. The City of Berkeley cautions that natural molding from improper storage, certain soils for indoor growing, foreign materials that unintentionally becomes lodged in cultivated cannabis, and pesticides, can all potentially render the medical cannabis totally unsafe for consumption. Collectives are encouraged to use their best effort to determine whether or not cannabis is organically grown. (Ord. 6620-NS § 1, 2001)
Section 12.26.070 Permissible quantities of medical cannabis.
The Compassionate Use Act allows Qualified Patients or their Primary Caregivers to possess or cultivate cannabis for the Qualified Patient's "personal medical purposes." Because each Qualified Patient will have different needs regarding appropriate Personal Medical Use, this Section seeks to ensure that each Qualified Patient or his or her Primary Caregiver can possess enough cannabis to meet the Qualified Patient's personal medical need.
A. Cultivation of Medical Cannabis. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 11362.77(c) as effective on January 1, 2004, all cultivation of cannabis for medical purposes by a Qualified Patient or Primary Caregiver shall be lawful and shall in no way be subject to criminal prosecution when said cultivation is conducted solely for the personal medical purposes of Qualified Patients. Such lawful cultivation may include the cultivation and possession of both female and male plants at all stages of growth, clones, seedlings, and seeds, and related cultivation equipment and supplies. Medical Cannabis Collectives, Qualified Patients, Primary Caregivers, and cultivators may cultivate individually or collectively.
B. Possession of Medical Cannabis. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 11362.77(c) as effective on January 1, 2004, all possession of cannabis for medical purposes by a Qualified Patient or Primary Caregiver shall be lawful and shall in no way be subject to criminal prosecution when said possession is undertaken solely for the personal medical purposes of Qualified Patients. Medical Cannabis Collectives, Qualified Patients, Primary Caregivers, and cultivators may possess individually or collectively.
C. Property and Equipment. The rental, leasing, or providing of equipment or space utilized for cultivation, processing, or storage of medical cannabis in accordance with this Section shall be deemed lawful.
D. Size of Visible Cannabis Gardens. The City of Berkeley recognizes that large scale outdoor cultivation of cannabis may create a risk of theft. Accordingly, any Medical Cannabis Collective that cultivates cannabis plants outdoors (excluding secure rooftops, balconies, or other locations that are not visible from other buildings or land) or in a place that is visible with the naked eye from other public or private property, may cultivate no more than ten such visible plants at one time on a single parcel of property.
The Compassionate Use Act allows qualified patients or their primary caregivers to possess or cultivate medical cannabis for the qualified patient's "personal medical purposes." While each qualified patient will have different needs regarding appropriate personal medical use, this section seeks to standardize the maximum allowable amounts of medical cannabis that qualified patients and their primary caregivers can possess or cultivate under state law, in the absence of a medical doctor's authorization to possess or cultivate a greater amount of cannabis as a result of the patient's particular illness or health condition.
A. Dried Cannabis Cultivated Indoors. Qualified patients who cultivate cannabis indoors may possess up to 1.5 pounds of dried cannabis for personal medical use. This 1.5 pound allotment may be possessed by the quali- fied patient, or may be held in trust by the qualified patients' primary caregiver(s), but the total amount of dried cannabis possessed by the qualified patient and his or her primary caregiver(s) shall not exceed 1.5 pounds for that qualified patient.
B. Indoor Cannabis Plants. In addition, qualified patients may also possess up to 10 cannabis plants for personal medical use. This 10 cannabis plant allotment may be possessed by the qualified patient, or may be held in trust by the qualified patients' primary caregiver(s), but the total amount of plants possessed by the qualified patient and his or her primary caregiver(s) shall not exceed 10 cannabis plants for that qualified patient.
C. Dried Cannabis Cultivated Outdoors. Qualified patients who cultivate cannabis outdoors may possess up to 2.5 pounds of dried cannabis for personal medical use. This 2.5 pound allotment may be possessed by the quali- fied patient, or may be held in trust by the qualified patient and his or her primary caregiver(s), but the total amount of dried cannabis possessed by the qualified patient and his or her primary caregiver(s) shall not exceed 2.5 pounds for that qualified patient.
D. Outdoor Cannabis Plants. In addition, qualified patients who cultivate cannabis outdoors may also possess up to 10 cannabis plants, for personal medical use, provided that such cultivation meets the guidelines set forth in Section 12.24.040(E) of this chapter. This 10 plant allotment may be possessed by the qualified patient, or may be held in trust by the qualified patients' primary caregiver(s), but the total amount of plants possessed by the qualified patient and his or her primary caregiver(s) shall not exceed 10 plants for that qualified patient. (Ord. 6620-NS § 1, 2001)
Section 12.26.080 Transportation of medical cannabis. Aqualified patient or a primary caregiver of a qualified patient may transport medical cannabis within the City of Berkeley to the extent that the quantity transported and the method, timing, and distance of the transportation are reasonably related to the qualified patient's current medical need at the time of transport. (Ord. 6620-NS § 1, 2001)
Section 12.26.090 Medical cannabis paraphernalia. A qualified patient and the primary caregiver of a qualified patient may possess paraphernalia that the quali- fied patient needs to smoke or otherwise consume medical cannabis. (Ord. 6620-NS § 1, 2001)
Section 12.26.100 Police procedures and training.
A. Within six months of the date that this chapter becomes effective, the training materials handbooks, and printed procedures of the Police Department shall be updated to reflect its provisions. These updated materials shall be made available to police officers in the regular course of their training and service.
B. Medical cannabis-related activities shall be the lowest possible priority of the Police Department.
C. Qualified patients, their primary caregivers, and medical cannabis collectives who come into contact with law enforcement will not be cited or arrested and dried cannabis or cannabis plants in their possession will not be seized if they are in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
D. Qualified patients, their primary caregivers, and medical cannabis collectives who come into contact with law enforcement and cannot establish or demonstrate their status as a qualified patient, primary caregiver, or medical cannabis collective, but are otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, will not be cited or arrested and dried cannabis or cannabis plants in their possession will not be seized if (1) based on the activity and circumstances, the officer determines that there is no evidence of criminal activity; (2) the claim to be a qualified patient, primary caregiver, or medical cannabis collective is credible; and (3) proof of status as a qualified patient, primary caregiver, or medical cannabis collective can be provided to the Police Department within three business days of the date of contact with law enforcement. (Ord. 6620-NS § 1, 2001)
Section 12.26.110 Peer Review Committee.
The purpose of this Section is to ensure that medical cannabis provision in Berkeley is conducted in a safe and orderly manner to protect the welfare of Qualified Patients and the community.
A. Peer Review Committee. The Medical Cannabis Collectives and dispensaries in operation at the time this Chapter becomes effective shall each designate no more than two spokespeople to serve on a peer review committee that shall meet at least one time each month for the purpose of overseeing the operation of Medical Cannabis Collectives and dispensaries and ensuring their compliance with operational and safety standards published annually by the committee.
B. New Dispensaries. The peer review committee shall consult with any individual, organization, affiliation, collective, cooperative or other entity which seeks to open a new Medical Cannabis Collective or dispensary in Berkeley or to relocate an existing Medical Cannabis Collective or dispensary. The peer review committee shall certify that the proposed Medical Cannabis Collective or dispensary has a strategy for compliance with the published safety and operational standards before the new Medical Cannabis Collective or dispensary commences lawful operation.
C. New Members on the Peer Review Committee. Upon commencing lawful operation in Berkeley, each new Medical Cannabis Collective or dispensary shall designate no more than two spokespeople to serve on the peer review committee.
D. Operational Oversight. The peer review committee will monitor the compliance of all Medical Cannabis Collectives or dispensaries in Berkeley for the purpose of correcting any violations of the safety and operational standards. Medical Cannabis Collectives or dispensaries found to be in willful or ongoing violation of the standards shall be removed from membership on the peer review committee and shall be deemed in violation of this Chapter and referred to the City for appropriate action.
E. Immunity. Individuals operating Medical Cannabis Collectives or dispensaries represented on the peer review committee shall be deputized by the City of Berkeley as Drug Control Officers for the purpose of providing immunity under the provisions of Section 885(d) of Title 21 of the United States Code.
Section 12.26.120 Emergency Distribution. The City of Berkeley strongly opposes the federal prosecution of medical cannabis patients, caregivers, and providers. The City shall make all reasonable accommodation for the provision of medical cannabis to Qualified Patients or their Primary Caregivers in the event that access to medical cannabis is interrupted or severely diminished as the result of civil or criminal federal law enforcement activity. The City shall accommodate distribution of medical cannabis as early as possible following such a disruption and no later than thirty (30) days after the disruption.
SECTION 4 PERMITTING OF DISPENSARIES
Sections 23C.16.060 and 23E.16.070 shall be added to the Berkeley Zoning Code as follows:
Section 23C.16.060 Medical Cannabis Residential Cultivation
No Use Permit shall be required for qualified patients to cultivate medical cannabis in their residence or on their residential property.
Section 23E.16.070 Medical Cannabis Collectives
As proper regulation is crucial to the safety of our community, medical cannabis collectives that operate dispensaries from which medical cannabis is dispensed to members shall be issued a Zoning Certificate for as long as it complies with Chapter 12.26. This section does not apply in districts where retail sales uses are prohibited. Zoning Certificates for medical cannabis dispensaries shall be issued without undue delay and following normal and expedient consideration of the permit application.
If any provision of this initiative, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect any other provision or application of this initiative that can be given without the invalid provision or application; and to this end, the provisions or applications of this initiative are severable.