ACLU of Sacramento expresses ‘deep concerns’ over plans by Sacramento City Council to restrict medical marijuana dispensaries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Contact: Nikos Leverenz (916) 248-0338.

ACLU of Sacramento expresses ‘deep concerns’
over plans by Sacramento City Council to restrict
medical marijuana dispensaries; call opposition ‘myopic’

SACRAMENTO – The ACLU of Sacramento County expressed “deep concerns” about plans by the Sacramento City Council – its Law and Legislation is meeting today about a new ordinance – to severely limit the number of registered medical marijuana dispensaries and strictly limit their operations within the city of Sacramento.

In a letter to Law and Legislation Committee members of the City Council, the ACLU said the restrictions will “frustrate the existing needs of those Californians who are currently exercising their established legal right to obtain medical marijuana to promote their health and well-being.”

“(P)rospective cannabis dispensary regulations must give due consideration to the compelling needs of both patients and care providers, who regrettably still face a great deal of hardship—including potential arrest, prosecution and imprisonment—in facilitating access to needed medication in a safe, secure, and dignified fashion,” the letter continued.

The ACLU criticized “myopic political opposition to established state law,” and added that the Sacramento Chapter of the ACLU will be “vigilantly monitoring” the issue.

For a copy of the entire letter, please contact Nikos Leverenz at (916) 248-0338.

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