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Dispensaries are proving to be an asset to the <br />communities they serve, as well as the larger <br />community within which they operate. <br />ASA's survey of local officials and monitoring <br />of regulatory activity throughout the State of <br />California has shown that, once working reg- <br />ulatory ordinances are in place, dispensaries <br />are typically viewed favorably by public offi- <br />cials, neighbors, businesses, and the communi- <br />ty at large, and that regulatory ordinances <br />can and do improve an area, both socially and <br />economically. <br />Dispensaries -now expressly legal under <br />California state law -are helping revitalize <br />neighborhoods by reducing crime and bring- <br />ing new customers to surrounding businesses <br />They improve public safety by increasing the <br />security presence in neighborhoods, reducing <br />illicit market marijuana sales, and ensuring <br />that any criminal activity gets reported to the <br />appropriate law enforcement authorities. <br />More importantly, dispensaries benefit the <br />community by providing safe access for those <br />who have the greatest difficulty getting the <br />medicine their doctors recommend: the most <br />seriously ill and injured. Many dispensaries <br />also offer essential services to patients, such as <br />help with food and housing. <br />Medical and public health studies have also <br />shown that the social-club model of most dis- <br />pensaries is of significant benefit to the over- <br />all health of patients. The result is that <br />cannabis patients rate their satisfaction with <br />dispensaries as far greater than the customer- <br />satisfaction ratings given to health care agen- <br />cies in general. <br />Public officials across the state, in both urban <br />and rural communities where dispensary reg- <br />ulatory ordinances have been adopted, have <br />been outspoken in praise of what. Their com- <br />ments are consistent on and favorable to the <br />regulatory schemes they enacted and the <br />benefits to the patients and others living in <br />their communities. <br />As a compassionate, community-based <br />response to the medical needs of more than <br />150,000 sick and suffering Californians, dis- <br />pensaries are working. <br />For more information, see vw~N.ArnericansFOrSafeAccess.org or contact the ASA office at 1-888-929-4367 or 510-Z51-1856. <br />13 <br />