On Tuesday, November 19 the Sacramento City Council will vote on a proposed ordinance allowing for a five-year pilot program for indoor cannabis consumption lounges that could serve pre-packaged food and provide entertainment.
At the meeting, staff is suggesting two kinds of local licenses:
• Type 1 (Ingestible Products Only or “Non-smoking”) – would allow for cannabis-infused drinks, such as mocktails, canned/bottled drinks and cannabis infused-edibles, such as cookies, popcorn, chips, chocolate, and gummies.
• Type 2 (Inhalable and Ingestible Products or “All cannabis consumption”) – would allow for all Type 1 activities and the ability to smoke cannabis products such as flower, pre-rolls, and concentrates.
TELL THE COUNCIL TO PROTECT SACRAMENTO RESIDENTS’ RIGHT TO CONSUME CANNABIS IN STATE-LEGAL CANNABIS LOUNGES.
Here are some ways you can show your support:
1. Send an e-comment on Tuesday’s agenda item. eComment is set to remain open throughout the meeting.
2. Attend the meeting in person to make your comment
WHERE: City Hall Complex located at 915 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
WHEN: Tuesday, November 19 at 2 PM
3. Share this notice with fellow Sacramento residents and urge them to take action!
As in other places, we expect anti-tobacco groups and others to oppose the ordinance. We must show our support for cannabis consumers’ rights in Sacramento.
POINTS TO MAKE:
• Unlike tobacco or alcohol, cannabis is illegal to consume in ANY PUBLIC PLACE. Therefore it’s very difficult for Sacramento residents to legally medicate or socialize with cannabis.
• Many landlords do not permit cannabis smoking or vaping, meaning Sacramento residents who cannot afford their own homes are also unable to consume in their apartments.
• Unlike tobacco, smoked cannabis also has proven medical value for patients with nausea, appetite loss, chronic pain, muscle spasticity, and other conditions.
• Unlike tobacco, marijuana smoke has been shown NOT to cause lung cancer [National Academy of Sciences, “Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids,” pp. 142-3]; nor has second-hand marijuana smoke been proven to cause other serious diseases in any human studies.
• Other cities have been operating cannabis lounges successfully; among them are Cathedral City, Coalinga, Coachella, Cotati, Emeryville, Eureka, Isleton, Lemoore, Lompoc, National City, Needles, Oakland, Ojai, Palm Springs, Philo, Port Hueneme, San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe, Ukiah, Weed, and West Hollywood.
• A ventilation plan, impaired driving prevention plan, etc. would be required to apply for a consumption lounge license in the City. Should Council approve the proposed ordinance, next steps will include developing minimum thresholds for employee time in lounges, and educating employees about the various types of cannabis, including the potency, absorption time, and effects, and how to recognize signs of impairment in their customers. Current state law requires consumption lounges to include secondhand smoke in their analysis of potential work hazards for purposes of their injury and illness prevention programs, and allow employees to wear face masks paid for by the employer.
• An online survey sent by Sacramento OCM to approximately 3,000 interested parties received 481 responses. Respondents were virtually unanimous in their support of expanding public cannabis consumption to either dedicated consumption lounges and/or to temporary events outside of Cal Expo.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION!
California NORML
Fighting for the Rights of Cannabis Consumers Since 1972
www.CaNORML.org
