As the City Council's Public Safety Subcommittee moves forward on developing a new medical cannabis dispensary ordinance, expected to pave the way for at least one nonprofit collective to open its doors in Martinez if approved by the full Council, many residents remain unfamiliar with the actual day-to-day operations of such facilities. The Gazette reporter went undercover this week to check out a 10-year-old, 2,500 square foot dispensary in Berkeley.
Most of the Berkeley Patients Group is housed in a modern, airy addition to a 1970s-era converted apartment building on busy, four-lane San Pablo Avenue, between University and Ashby Avenues.
Along the street-side sidewalk are several well-cared-for rose bushes blooming abundantly, in places almost disguising the six-foot high chain link fence that rims the roughly one-acre property.
During the collective's business hours, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., sections of the fence roll back to admit walk-ins and patients' vehicles into and exiting the parking lot, but most parkers are out of luck during the busy hours when every spot is taken. Additional street parking comes with feeding the meter.
A security guard is stationed at the front gate, and patients walking in via the succulent-decorated and sleek steel entrance are politely greeted by another hospital-gloved employee at the front door, who requests to see an I.D. and doctor's prescription.
Entering, the patient is directed by the doorman to once again present paperwork to the secretary seated behind a desk in a wood-paneled waiting room. Bouquets of fresh-cut flowers grace every surface, and waiting for the secretary to enter patient data into the computer and verify the prescription, patients can peruse a wall-full of cannabis-related publications, newsletters and the kind of illustrated informational pamphlets one finds in a typical doctor's office, albeit these titles include Medical Cannabis and Muscular Dystrophy and Medical Cannabis and Cancer.
The secretary explains that one can come to the dispensary only twice a day, and that after the first visit, one only needs to bring I.D. as the prescription papers have been recorded.
Once the secretary has verified the doctor's Rx, the patient is directed to walk through a communal café area, past the sales counter for live plants and coffee, tea and non-pot cookies, to the dispensary selling room.
Entering the sales room, another seated guard requests to see I.D., and carefully explains to first timers how the whole thing works.
"Up on the screen are the medications in stock today," the kind but firm guard explains, belying a well-rehearsed spiel. "A star means $10 and a half moon signifies $5. Please tell the clerk this is your first time, and sit there until you are called to the counter," indicating a row of seats along the wall. "Welcome to the Berkeley Patients Group."
A couple of minutes later, the new patient is called up to the counter, where the clerk brings out samples upon request, reminiscent of a visit to Tiffany's. If the patient is unfamiliar with the subtle physiological differences between Super Kush, Space Queen and All-Star Jack Frost, the clerk asks the physical and mental reaction desired.
"Do you want more of a body high for pain, or do you want to be mentally alert yet calmed?"
Having decided on the quality and quantity, the patient pays with cash or credit card, is asked if she wants a Customer Rewards card — just like Safeway — and sent on her way.
The entire trip to fulfill a prescription took about 20 minutes, similar to Walgreens or Longs except without the option to shop for groceries simultaneously.
Exiting the selling room, the patient is welcomed to take a seat in the café, where other patients of many body types, skin colors and ages chat, and some sample the product.
Contrary to some stereotypes, the room was not covered in a thick fog of pot smoke, but the odor of cannabis was definitely detectable. Outside the building, however, it was not.
At 4:30 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon, the energy in the dispensary common room was no different from an 8:30 a.m. stop at the Main Street Starbucks, an invisible upbeat tempo of people sharing ideas and friends greeting friends.
According to Berkeley Council members Kriss Worthington and Darryl Moore, the Berkeley Patients Group serves 5000 patients annually.
Brad Senesac, Communications Director for the BPG, said Friday the dispensary serves 500 to 600 patients daily.
"But we're a completely different model than those found in any other city in the world," said Senesac, explaining that 86 percent of Berkeley residents voted in favor of Prop. 215; hence, there was overwhelming community support for the dispensary as well.
Martinez city leaders also visited the Berkeley Patients Group to see operations firsthand.
On a recent Saturday, Mayor Rob Schroder and Council member Mike Menesini took a tour of the facility organized by prospective Martinez dispensary operator Larry Flint.
The following day, Council member Lara DeLaney and Martinez Police Commander Gary Peterson toured the BPG facility as well, said Schroder; they broke up the visit into two parts in an effort to avoid violating the Brown Act.
"To me it wasn't the clinical kind of atmosphere that most of these self-proposed operators talk about," said Schroder, adding that Flick assured him his business plan would not model the BPG's. Schroder said patients smoking onsite disconcerted him.
"To see so much marijuana at one spot, it was bam, in your face. I was trying to keep an open mind, it's my obligation to read everything and listen to testimony. This hasn't even gotten to full Council yet."
The current Martinez dispensary ordinance draft under consideration by the Public Safety Committee stipulates that "cannabis shall not be consumed on the premises of the dispensary... includ[ing] the actual building, vehicles, as well as any accessory structures, parking areas, or other surroundings located within 200 feet of the dispensary's entrance...[and] patients shall not consume cannabis acquired from the dispensary in public places."
News Hawk: Warbux 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Martinez-News Gazette
Author: Greta Mart
Contact: mailto:gretanews@gmail.com
Copyright: 2010 Martinez-News Gazette
Website: An inside look at a medical cannabis dispensary | The Martinez News-Gazette
Most of the Berkeley Patients Group is housed in a modern, airy addition to a 1970s-era converted apartment building on busy, four-lane San Pablo Avenue, between University and Ashby Avenues.
Along the street-side sidewalk are several well-cared-for rose bushes blooming abundantly, in places almost disguising the six-foot high chain link fence that rims the roughly one-acre property.
During the collective's business hours, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., sections of the fence roll back to admit walk-ins and patients' vehicles into and exiting the parking lot, but most parkers are out of luck during the busy hours when every spot is taken. Additional street parking comes with feeding the meter.
A security guard is stationed at the front gate, and patients walking in via the succulent-decorated and sleek steel entrance are politely greeted by another hospital-gloved employee at the front door, who requests to see an I.D. and doctor's prescription.
Entering, the patient is directed by the doorman to once again present paperwork to the secretary seated behind a desk in a wood-paneled waiting room. Bouquets of fresh-cut flowers grace every surface, and waiting for the secretary to enter patient data into the computer and verify the prescription, patients can peruse a wall-full of cannabis-related publications, newsletters and the kind of illustrated informational pamphlets one finds in a typical doctor's office, albeit these titles include Medical Cannabis and Muscular Dystrophy and Medical Cannabis and Cancer.
The secretary explains that one can come to the dispensary only twice a day, and that after the first visit, one only needs to bring I.D. as the prescription papers have been recorded.
Once the secretary has verified the doctor's Rx, the patient is directed to walk through a communal café area, past the sales counter for live plants and coffee, tea and non-pot cookies, to the dispensary selling room.
Entering the sales room, another seated guard requests to see I.D., and carefully explains to first timers how the whole thing works.
"Up on the screen are the medications in stock today," the kind but firm guard explains, belying a well-rehearsed spiel. "A star means $10 and a half moon signifies $5. Please tell the clerk this is your first time, and sit there until you are called to the counter," indicating a row of seats along the wall. "Welcome to the Berkeley Patients Group."
A couple of minutes later, the new patient is called up to the counter, where the clerk brings out samples upon request, reminiscent of a visit to Tiffany's. If the patient is unfamiliar with the subtle physiological differences between Super Kush, Space Queen and All-Star Jack Frost, the clerk asks the physical and mental reaction desired.
"Do you want more of a body high for pain, or do you want to be mentally alert yet calmed?"
Having decided on the quality and quantity, the patient pays with cash or credit card, is asked if she wants a Customer Rewards card — just like Safeway — and sent on her way.
The entire trip to fulfill a prescription took about 20 minutes, similar to Walgreens or Longs except without the option to shop for groceries simultaneously.
Exiting the selling room, the patient is welcomed to take a seat in the café, where other patients of many body types, skin colors and ages chat, and some sample the product.
Contrary to some stereotypes, the room was not covered in a thick fog of pot smoke, but the odor of cannabis was definitely detectable. Outside the building, however, it was not.
At 4:30 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon, the energy in the dispensary common room was no different from an 8:30 a.m. stop at the Main Street Starbucks, an invisible upbeat tempo of people sharing ideas and friends greeting friends.
According to Berkeley Council members Kriss Worthington and Darryl Moore, the Berkeley Patients Group serves 5000 patients annually.
Brad Senesac, Communications Director for the BPG, said Friday the dispensary serves 500 to 600 patients daily.
"But we're a completely different model than those found in any other city in the world," said Senesac, explaining that 86 percent of Berkeley residents voted in favor of Prop. 215; hence, there was overwhelming community support for the dispensary as well.
Martinez city leaders also visited the Berkeley Patients Group to see operations firsthand.
On a recent Saturday, Mayor Rob Schroder and Council member Mike Menesini took a tour of the facility organized by prospective Martinez dispensary operator Larry Flint.
The following day, Council member Lara DeLaney and Martinez Police Commander Gary Peterson toured the BPG facility as well, said Schroder; they broke up the visit into two parts in an effort to avoid violating the Brown Act.
"To me it wasn't the clinical kind of atmosphere that most of these self-proposed operators talk about," said Schroder, adding that Flick assured him his business plan would not model the BPG's. Schroder said patients smoking onsite disconcerted him.
"To see so much marijuana at one spot, it was bam, in your face. I was trying to keep an open mind, it's my obligation to read everything and listen to testimony. This hasn't even gotten to full Council yet."
The current Martinez dispensary ordinance draft under consideration by the Public Safety Committee stipulates that "cannabis shall not be consumed on the premises of the dispensary... includ[ing] the actual building, vehicles, as well as any accessory structures, parking areas, or other surroundings located within 200 feet of the dispensary's entrance...[and] patients shall not consume cannabis acquired from the dispensary in public places."
News Hawk: Warbux 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Martinez-News Gazette
Author: Greta Mart
Contact: mailto:gretanews@gmail.com
Copyright: 2010 Martinez-News Gazette
Website: An inside look at a medical cannabis dispensary | The Martinez News-Gazette
