Safe Access

With the passing of Measure V in November, Lemon Grove residents will finally have safe, convenient access to medical cannabis in their own city. Measure V repealed the previous prohibition against medical cannabis collectives in the city. It qualified for the ballot by gathering more than 10 percent of the signatures of registered voters. The measure requires background checks for all employees and at least one state licensed, uniformed security guard must be present during business hours, which are limited to 8a.m. to 8p.m. daily. Other restrictions include patients only being allowed to purchase their medicine once a day, and collectives must be located 1,000 feet from playgrounds, public parks, schools, licensed daycare facilities and alcohol and substance abuse treatment centers. Also, transactions and employee and patient records must be maintained for two years, and 24-hour recorded video surveillance of the premise and a centrally monitored alarm systems are required. Local activist and member of the San Diego chapter of Americans for Safe Access, Pamela Bickford, worked the front lines, sometimes seven days a week, collecting signatures to get Measure V on the ballot and provided information to citizens about the benefits of medical cannabis. Bickford told CULTURE that she is “happy with the way it was presented to the community, knowing that there was going to be a distance between parks and other facilities. They were concerned about security, so when they saw that it was going to be secure, I think that made them more comfortable.” She went on to say that her experience with the community was overwhelmingly positive. Even when she encountered staunch anti-cannabis constituents her outlook remained positive. “My attitude was that behind every ‘no,’ there was always going to be a ‘yes.’ That is how I got the signatures, with a good attitude.” Bickford was especially proud, and pleasantly surprised, by the many signatures she received from elderly citizens, saying that they told her that they would much rather have a cannabis dispensary in their neighborhood than a traditional pharmacy. She easily connected with generations old and young alike, by telling them, “I feel that cannabis is not about getting high. It’s about allowing yourself to become healed by a natural substance. It doesn’t do any harm. I feel, that as humans, we shouldn’t deny others access to something so useful and beneficial.”

Joining San Diego and La Mesa, Lemon Grove is now the third city in San Diego County to allow for the sale of cannabis for medical use. Prior to the passage of Measure V, and until it is actually implemented, patients have no choice but to rely on illegal storefront operations, or travel to cities that allow the sale of medical cannabis. The results of Measure V were officially verified on December 20, giving the city 90 days to figure out the approval process for medical cannabis retail outlets, meaning that neither applications nor permits will be issued before March 20, this according to Lemon Grove City Manager Lydia Romero. Romero also warned that any retail outlets that open before being approved by the city will be considered illegal and both the business owner and property owner will be subject to code enforcement action.

Legal speak aside, Measure V passed by a mere 90 votes, in a city with a population of over 25,000. Without the dedication of cannabis activists like Pamela Bickford and many others, patients in Lemon Grove would not have gained the right to the medicine that they choose and deserve. Elections have consequences, and fortunately in this case, those consequences may actually save lives.