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DISCUSSION <br />I. Community Needs <br />Staff from the Tri-Cities Health Center has provided additional information advising that <br />residents in Southern and Eastern Alameda County find medical marijuana beneficial for <br />treating weight foss and nausea associated with HIV/AIDS. As these qualified persons <br />are not comfortable with the homeless persons around the dispensaries in Downtown <br />Hayward, they would prefer a dispensary in East County. The issue of local access is <br />also an important consideration for individuals with limited mobility. Local dispensaries <br />are not currently available in the Tri-Valley area. Staff has been unable to quantify at this <br />time the number of Tri-Valley residents (or their caregivers) traveling to other parts of the <br />County to access medical marijuana dispensaries. <br />The April 3rd report listed dispensaries in the Bay Area which could meet the needs of <br />Pleasanton residents requiring medical marijuana. City staff has subsequently been <br />advised that the dispensary in Pacheco has closed, but there is now a dispensary <br />operating in EI Sobrante. <br />Staff also has had a discussion with Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley's <br />Constituent Liaison, Bob Swanson. By telephone, Mr. Swanson reiterated the <br />suggestion set forth in his April 17th letter that Pleasanton establish a medical marijuana <br />panel to research and make recommendations on the issue for the community. Mr. <br />Swanson also suggested that if medical marijuana dispensaries are located throughout <br />Alameda County and within each city, then patients would have easier access to this <br />needed medicine and each community would meet the needs of their own residents. <br />Additionally, it has been stated that as jurisdictions continue to ban dispensaries, existing <br />locations become overwhelmed thereby impacting their ability to deliver services in an <br />effective manner to qualified individuals. <br />II. Medical Benefits of Marijuana <br />Information about medical benefits of marijuana continues to be developed and <br />published. Available information includes: <br />a) Cannabis in painful HIV-associated sensory neuropathy. A randomized placebo- <br />confrolled trial Neurology (2007). Abstract may be viewed at <br />http://www.neurology.org/ following link to "Search for Articles" Year 2007 Volume <br />68 First Page 515 <br />b) Marijuana as medicine: Consider the pros and cons (2006) Mayo Clinic <br />http://www.mavoclinic.com/health/medical-marijuana/GA00014 <br />c) Aging and Medical Marijuana Americans for Safe Access <br />http://www.safeaccessnow.orq/article.php?id=4519 <br />d) Chronic Pain and Medical Marijuana Americans for Safe Access <br />' Full copies of these documents are available in the City Clerk's Office, or by utilizing the web <br />links. Because some of the documents are copyrighted, the City Clerk's Office is not able to <br />provide photocopies, nor post the entire document on the City's website. <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />