Poll: End medical marijuana dispensary ban

Readers in an online Argus-Courier poll were in favor of lifting Petaluma’s ban on medical marijuana dispensaries.|

Readers in an online Argus-Courier poll were in favor of lifting Petaluma’s ban on medical marijuana dispensaries.

About 58 percent said the city should allow medical marijuana dispensaries to operate.

Here are some of the comments:

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“Absolutely! It’s a shame they do not at present.”

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“A lot of people have to go out of town to get medication. That doesn’t seem right.”

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“As long as dispensaries use appropriate advertising and design their store to fit in among the medical community, there will be no harm in granting them the same rights as other small business owners. We should encourage an image of Petaluma to influence all dispensaries in respect to retaining our cultural heritage.”

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“I honestly believe that a majority of those claiming to use marijuana for medicinal purposes really just like the “high.” Marijuana clouds the brain, kills brain cells, lowers productivity of those smoking it and more. The odor of plants as well as the smell of burning marijuana is offensive. What’s more, burning marijuana can affect infants and young children.”

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“It’s best to make it official and regulated.”

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“It will just be an invitation for more guns, gang activity and crime.”

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“Marijuana is still not legalized by the federal government. Until it is, marijuana usage in the United States, whether for medical or recreational use, is illegal. But then again, we let a lot of other completely stupid and illegal things happen in Petaluma so I suspect that we’ll see Petaluma allowing medical marijuana dispensaries.”

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“No, absolutely not. Correct me if I am mistaken, but pills without the active ingredient of marijuana are available, which purportedly provide the desired benefits. If it is truly a medical need, give it to the pharmacist to dispense. Why create an unregulated, controversial business opportunity for an industry with questionable sub-culture practices for a narrow group of people who think they need this type of medication?”

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“Not until there’s proper regulation in place. Until then it remains a front for recreational use.”

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“Patients have the legal right to safe legal access.”

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“Petaluma over the past few years has reduced its tax leakage and its time to reduce another tax leakage issue by allowing a limited number of marijuana dispensaries to town. We need all of the tax revenue we can get to start fixing our roads.”

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“It sucks having to drive to Santa Rosa. Keep the business local.”

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“That brings a ton of baggage we do not need.”

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“The sales tax revenue is always the argument that the politicians use to keep adding more retail. Why not allow it to be sold here so Petaluma can collect the sales tax also?”

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“We don’t need the that in our town. We have enough illegal growers and smokers in Petaluma. Tired of being sick from the smells along with the crime it brings. Just say No!”

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“Yes. It is another retail leakage of Petalumans going out of town for.”

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“I use a local Petaluma delivery service (Cannaluma) but I would much rather prefer if they had a shop I can go to.”

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