Milpitas Reconsiders Cannabis Bans: In the heart of Milpitas, change is in the air as the city grapples with reevaluating its stance on medical cannabis delivery. A 2022 state law will soon bring an end to cities banning the delivery of medical cannabis, making this essential product more accessible to those who need it most.
Under the city’s existing laws, all commercial cannabis businesses, both medicinal and recreational, are banned, with strict limitations on personal cultivation. However, Milpitas is on the cusp of a transformative decision. The Milpitas City Council is set to review amendments to its delivery ban, a move that could have a profound impact on its residents.
For Silicon Valley Cannabis Alliance Founder Sean Kali-rai, opening Milpitas to deliveries is about ensuring that medical marijuana reaches those who might be otherwise unable to make the trek to cities where it’s legally available. Kali-rai emphasizes, “The real people you’re impacting are the people who don’t have access. They may be disabled or facing other challenges that hinder their ability to travel to a cannabis dispensary in a neighboring city.”
Milpitas’ existing bans were enacted in 2019, following extensive community engagement through meetings and resident surveys. A public survey in 2018, with 517 responses, revealed that 82.2% of participants did not use cannabis, and 53.3% expressed support for banning cannabis delivery services within the city.
City officials are now recommending that the council pass amendments to the existing bans. These changes would maintain the prohibition on cannabis businesses within Milpitas but allow for direct delivery to specific patients within the municipality. To ensure responsible access, the amendments call for verification upon delivery, such as a doctor’s note or a medical marijuana identification card.
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In their report, city representatives assert, “The City has a vested and legitimate interest in ensuring that medicinal cannabis is actually delivered to and received by qualifying patients and their primary caregivers and not others who cannot receive medicinal cannabis under State law, including minors.”
With roughly two-thirds of cities across the state banning commercial cannabis, including medical cannabis, Kali-rai underscores the unintended consequences. Such bans have driven patients to purchase illegal cannabis, which lacks the safety standards of legal alternatives. He argues that allowing medical marijuana delivery in the city is not only more accessible but safer for residents. Kali-rai questions, “Do you want your constituents and citizens to have access to safe, legal cannabis or turn to the underground market?”
Milpitas stands at a crossroads, and the decisions made in the coming months could have a far-reaching impact on the lives of its residents. The clock is ticking as the city faces a deadline to ensure that medical cannabis finds its way to those who depend on it for relief.
Our Reader’s Queries
How many dispensaries are in California 2023?
As of September 2023, there are a total of 12,572 dispensaries across the United States. Oklahoma boasts the highest number of dispensaries with 2,683, followed by California with 1,222.
When did California ban cannabis?
Back in 1913, California was the first state to prohibit cannabis, long before it was banned federally in 1937. The state Board of Pharmacy sponsored the law as part of their anti-narcotics campaign, which was primarily focused on opiates. Interestingly, there was no significant public concern about cannabis at the time.
What is the history of cannabis in the United States?
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, cannabis was commonly used as a patent medicine in the United States. It was even included in the United States Pharmacopoeia in 1850. However, in 1937, the Marihuana Tax Act was passed, which marked the beginning of federal restrictions on cannabis use and sale.