December 7, 2022
CITY OF SACRAMENTO PLANNING
& DESIGN COMMISSION
915 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: LETTER OF SUPPORT - 7909 BRUCEVILLE ROAD -
- PROPOSED STOREFRONT DISPENSARY (P22-020)
Greetings Chair and Commissioners,
On behalf of the Institute for MORE (Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Equity), this letter serves to convey STRONG SUPPORT for LaKrisha King’s storefront dispensary application (P22-020), which will serve hundreds of medical cannabis use patients who visit the nearby Kaiser Hospital, and deserve sensitivity as they manage illness and chronic pain. As stigmas, regulation and consumer education surround cannabis policy, the scientific research also carves a valid place for Ms. King’s health and wellness centered business model. In addition to treating medical conditions, National Institutes of Health research supports cannabis use as an effective treatment to decrease the explosive rise of meth use and addiction ((( Therapeutic Effects of Cannabidiol on Methamphetamine Abuse: A Review of Preclinical Study - PMC (nih.gov) ))).
For the reasons stated above, we urge the Commission to be careful and fair as it views Ms. King’s application through a “sensitive use” lens. We also hope that your careful consideration of the sequence of events that establish Ms. King’s facility lease and CUP application filing WELL BEFORE a new outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation center came along …….. will result in your APPROVAL of her application. Other jurisdictions in California, such as the City of Los Angeles planning commission, have statutes regarding an applicant who applied well BEFORE a subsequent "sensitive use" came along.
They don't sink an otherwise approvable entrepreneur/investor who floated their ship FIRST. We urge Sacramento’s Commission to use its discretion, to lead in the City’s commitment to EQUITY, and follow LA's precedent. As the staff report clearly indicates :::::
1) The new outpatient rehab center operators did not get their required California Department of Health Care Services zoning verification from the City until October 20, 2022. Their verbally confirmed??? lease execution date occurred after the filing of the conditional use permit application for the cannabis dispensary.
2) Ms. King executed her site lease on August 1, 2021. She submitted her cannabis dispensary conditional use permit application on October 29, 2021.
The Institute for MORE advocates for equity and economic justice in public policy and the cannabis industry, for the benefit of citizens and entrepreneurs who are Drug War Survivors. The Institute is the premier leader for cannabis equity in our region, and we are responsible for leading community organizing and policy negotiations that resulted in Sacramento’s adoption of the CORE ordinance.
10-Community Comments (All)
INSTITUTE FOR MORE
LETTER OF SUPPORT - 7909 BRUCEVILLE ROAD - PROPOSED STOREFRONT DISPENSARY (P22-020) December 7, 2022 / Page 2 of 2
The people and the Communities that make up the eligible population CORE participants are still struggling with the racial wealth gaps created by Sacramento’s role in the Drug War. As general operators got a head start to now monopolize and dominate the local market, we are still struggling to get the City to properly prioritize and implement the CORE ordinance by achieving its policy goal of having 50% of all cannabis licenses be CORE owned and operated. Less than 8 percent of all City cannabis licenses are held by CORE participants.
Ms. King is positioning a legal, safe and regulated business that is not a burden, but a benefit to medical use patients, Sacramento’s regional and neighborhood economies, job creation and improving security by eliminating blight and vacant commercial properties.
Ms. King is one of only 2 Black women in the City with a real opportunity to open a storefront dispensary. She is a business leader, health advocate and community servant we can ALL be proud of.
For all of these reasons and more, the Institute for MORE urges the Commission to approve Ms. King’s application.
Sincerely,
Malaki Amen
Director
Institute for MORE
500 Capitol Mall, Suite 2350
Sacramento, CA 95814
916.242.8313, X101
www.CaliforniaUP.org
10-Community Comments (All)
10-Community Comments (All)
10-Community Comments (All)
10-Community Comments (All)