HomeMy WebLinkAbout2C Public CommentDear Palm Springs City Council,
Having worked on both Medical Marijuana and now Cannabis
with the city of Palm Springs for the past 15 years I can tell you
that one thing is for sure -Palm Springs is known throughout
the Cannabis Industry as an extremely fair and honest city
government to do business with.
It started by trying to help patients get safe affordable access to
their medication. And now as a nascent but growing industry, it
provides an important and much-needed product and service
to our residents.
I think it is important to remember that these businesses aren't
just businesses -they are people, who have families, who
depend on these jobs to support and grow their families. It is
their livelihood, their means of securing the necessities of life.
Even today cannabis operators are painted in an extremely
negative way by those people who do not believe marijuana
has a place in our society. Fortunately Palm Springs has proudly
and emphatically denounced that stigma and signed into law
smart and fair cannabis ordinances which allowed the industry
to open up and hopefully prosper.
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This is why I ask the city to continue to embrace and not
stagnate our nascent cannabis industry.
Some of the larger operators may be doing well but some of
the smaller independent operators here in Palm Springs are
barely able to keep up with the competition and make ends
meet.
The Black Market doesn't make things any better. If the city
can find time to put together a better program to deal with the
illegal operators with some of the monies coming from these
fees or possibly fines it would be addressing the real issue head
on.
Remember -the Black market operators do not pay tax.
I should also note that the black market is as prevalent in the
marketplace for delivery of cannabis as all of the dispensaries,
manufacturers and cultivators COMBINED. ALL of them need to
be addressed
So increasing the fines and not the fees is the correct road to
take.
According to Lieutenant Villegas from this week's cannabis
subcommittee meeting: "Of the odor issues (complaints) we
have received, six this year are coming from the King's Garden
area. That's who our complaints are about. We have gotten no
other complaints throughout the rest of the city and we
continuously work with Veronica's office and the owners of
King's garden to make sure these oder issue complaints are
minimized."
So it doesn't take a rocket science to figure out that the rest of
the industry in Palm Springs is paying for one primary violator.
As stated by staff -"these fees are solely to allow the city to
recover it's cost (of) and administrating the cannabis program."
Adding "this is just preliminary discussion."
With that I ask that the council take the time -along with
Veronica, the Lieutenant and Subcommittee members -to sit
down with the stakeholders and together come up with a plan
that works for everyone.
My suggestion is to increase the new applicant fees over a
multi-year period to the amount necessary to cover application
costs, not enforcement costs.
As far as renewal fees, I for the life of me, nor can anyone I find,
determine how it is possible to charge $10,000 to renew an
existing business permit.
These increased fees make it more difficult to help low income
and medical patients or local non profits. An example worth
noting -A $10k renewal fee would cripple and eliminate the
ability for dispensary operators to provide compassion care
rates and donations to important and worthy organizations,
such as Well in the Desert, as well as others who have received
donations and contributions directly from the local cannabis
industry. $10k times dozens of dispensaries is a significant
figure which can do a lot of good in the community and we
want to embrace this mindset of charity
Fortunately, math is math, numbers are numbers, and they tell
only the truth. With guidance from Councilpersons Woods and
Garner, a transparent study we'll be able to determine exactly
what is needed to allow the proper funding to conduct the
City's business.
I for one do not know all the moving parts that are required at
City Hall to make the entire city run smoothly and safely. It is a
humongous task for which I have the greatest respect to all
involved.
Sit down with the cannabis industry and make sure everything
is fair and correct so they can continue to be a valuable
contributor to the community, both financially and socially.
Anthony Mejia
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Kevin Woodward <popolily@gmail.com>
Thursday, May 27, 2021 5:06 PM
City Clerk
Marijuana fee increase
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We the end users are ultimately going to be the ones who pay for this. When legalized pot first started it was to
make it available and at low cost to medical patients.
It seems to me the fault lies with whoever approved so many permits for pot clubs. They should have only
approved the number that they can provide oversight for and then issue more as growth warrants.
The end user especially medical users are not the ones who should suffer at the hands of bull crap regulations
and greed.
I'd be interested in an accounting of my high tax rate and where it goes And finally what's the urgency
especially coming out of a pandemic Pleas reconsider or at least put the brakes on things.
Thanks
Kevin Woodward
510.701.0778
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