Oct 10 2024 Newsletter - Cannabis Health Ordinance
October 10, 2024
October 10th, 2024
WHAT DO THE SONOMA CANNABIS HEALTH ORDINANCE AND THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES HAVE IN COMMON?
We’re all familiar with the proverbial story of The Emperor’s New Clothes, where the emperor actually has no clothes. Just as that story has nothing to do with clothes, despite its title, the Sonoma County Cannabis Health Ordinance has nothing do with health. When the so-called Health Ordinance was drafted in 2016, and amended in 2018, there was no apparent consideration about the impact of these ordinances on public health. They were silent as to any public health concerns or protections. Since then, extensive and frequent studies have reported the diffuse and frightening public health risks of cannabis in every form to users and non-users of all ages. In the meantime, the Cannabis Health Ordinance still has no clothes.
On November 12, 2024, the Board of Supervisors will be considering the latest Cannabis Health Ordinance Amendment. Alarmingly, at this late date, the Board still has not published the proposed amendment. With those omissions and risks in mind and anticipating that amendment, the Neighborhood Coalition has performed in-depth research about the extensive public health dangers of cannabis and provided the Sonoma County Public Health Department with our findings in hopes of engaging them in the health discussion. We also have met with those in charge at Public Health and will be doing so again before the November 12th hearing. Some of the risks we already identified in our submissions to Public Health were highlighted as recently as October 6th in the Press Democrat’s publication of The New York Times’ article, “As Pot Use Grows, So Do Consequences.”
Unfortunately, the consideration of these issues by the Board coincides with the absence of leadership within the County’s Public Health Department with the resignations of both the Public Health Director, Tina Rivera, and the County Health Officer, Dr. Tanya Phares. The Board should be informed by Public Health about the risks of cannabis however with the abrupt exodus of leadership within that department, we are concerned Public Health won’t be in a position to step up to sound the alarm about these potentially serious impacts of cannabis on the health of Sonoma County residents. That makes our leadership role crucially important to inform the Board and County residents of the absolute necessity of making the Cannabis Health Amendment a document which truly protects the health of the County against the risks of cannabis.
ISSUES AND ACTIONS OUR OFFICALS SHOULD TAKE
Here are the highlights of the issues we have underscored in our communications with Public Health and the actions we propose the County take:
1. Amend the County’s Secondhand Smoke Ordinance to ban cannabis and hemp smoking or vaping in the areas already defined by the ordinance.
2. Amend the County’s Cannabis Land Use Ordinance (No. 6240) to:
• Require specific health warnings on cannabis products sold in Sonoma County and on signs in dispensaries.
• Ban the cultivation, manufacture, and sale of cannabis or cannabis products above 25% THC.
• Require cannabis edibles be packaged in containers inaccessible to children and devoid of advertising and packaging that might attract children.
• Prohibit cannabis sales except in commercial areas with appropriate security.
• Prohibit commerical cannabis consumption or sales in rural areas.
• Make a finding that humans should not be exposed to the carcinogen Beta-Myrcene in their homes, yards, or businesses.
• Limit cannabis cultivation to indoor facilities with ventilation systems that will remove all Beta-Myrcene and require protections for workers within those contained areas.
3. Undertake a pro-active, multi-faceted campaign to educate the public about:
• The risks and dangers relating to cannabis smoking, vaping, and ingestion, targeting parents and youth.
• The risks and dangers to mental health of cannabis use in all its forms.
• Prenatal and epigenetic dangers and health risks of cannabis consumption, targeting women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant about.
• Cardiovascular and other health risks to all users, particularly seniors.
• The dangers of driving under the influence and promote DUI testing for cannabis.
What’s Next?
Take action - DONATE TODAY. We need your help to educate and persuade the County Staff and Supervisors to enact a true Cannabis Health Ordinance that protects the County and its residents from the dangers and public health risks of cannabis.
This campaign to preserve what we hold near and dear is expensive. Your tax-deductible donation will fund technical experts and research that are critical to our effort to require the County protect our environment, children, and the health and safety of our neighborhoods. The County has viable options. It’s our goal to enlighten them about those better choices.
The Neighborhood Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, volunteer-based, dedicated to advocating for proper land-use policies that benefit the community. All donations support these efforts.
You can also mail a check to:
Sonoma Neighborhood Coalition
PO Box 1229
Sebastopol, CA 95473
Thank you for your support and donation.
The Neighborhood Coalition team