HomeMy WebLinkAboutPackets - Council Packets (130) May 19,2016
Regarding the extension of hours for Catalina Care, Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Dear Oro Valley City Council,
I felt it was imperative for me to provide some educational and informative
details to be considered for the vote on extension of hours. There are several
things for us citizens to take into consideration:
• The unique opportunity that we have to partner as a community with this
business to educate and benefit our community. Oro Valley has a majority
population of adults that are age 55+. This age group actually represents
the largest growing number of medical cannabis users and group that is
interested in gaining education on cannabis. Seniors also represent a
population of cannabis users who respond to and prefer a more discreet,
classy and professional approach when it comes to the dispensary that they
choose. Again, Oro Valley has a unique opportunity because this location is
just that— it's not the flashy, gaudy off the highway dispensary, or the
downtown one that has silly gimmicks and representation. It is classy and
understated and focused on being on the "good side" of medical cannabis —
this would be what we would want as far as the dispensary that represents
our community. After all, doing business in this manner and focusing on
education and community involvement breaks down the stigma associated
with cannabis because it demonstrates how it does good in the community
and then creates for more people who may have been closed off due to the
stigma to be more open minded, understanding and accepting.
• Out of all the dispensaries in Southern Arizona, only 1 dispensary owner
was present at the 1st Annual Medical Cannabis conference at Harvard
Medical School (in April 2016) and he was 1 of less than a handful that were
present for all of Arizona. This conference was for the medical
advancement of cannabis and to reveal the medical research and scientific
studies and progress being done in the treatment of epilepsy, autism,
Alzheimer's, cancer, brain & mitochondria disease, brain injury, migraines,
arthritis, diabetes, substance abuse of opioid and prescription drugs; just
to name a few. It is important to realize the intent of this dispensary owner
and understand how that intent and his way of doing business are unique
and valuable to our community. I would happy to share some of the
footage and presentations from this monumental conference that was held
at Harvard Medical School.
• As most of us that follow the OV retail sale campaigns and fiscal budget
discussion know; Oro Valley is need of retail tax dollars. I have included the
document off of the www.orovalleyaz.gov/business regarding "showing
support for local businesses and helping to maintain your quality of life in
Oro Valley that discusses the huge role that sales tax plays as a major
revenue source for the town of Oro Valley. If you google articles that
outline the tax revenue and benefits from medical marijuana sales you will
see a plethora of studies and research that indicates with certainty how this
revenue stream has improved communities and the lives of the citizens that
reside in them. We would be foolish as a community to not partner with
Catalina to contribute to their growth and revenue and we would be direct
benefactors of that growth.
• Currently the hours are so restrictive that patients who work normal
business hours and reside in Oro Valley have to drive outside OV to another
dispensary to get their medication because of the restrictive hours. I don't
have to drive outside of Oro Valley to obtain my medications from
Walgreens or CVS. The same goes for care givers who work normal business
hours and then get home to take the patient that they are caring for to get
their medication. It seems absurd that we have to drive outside of our
community and place our dollars towards another community's budget and
growth. As I reviewed documents for the city council meeting, I noticed
that we are considering postponing our 1st debt payment on the El
Conquistador which is another indication that we need to partner for
mutual growth with this business.
• As an advocate, I am very familiar with the ins and outs of this industry and
unfortunately it is the minority of dispensary owners who are truly and
genuinely focused and dedicated to the patients and the community that
they do business in. Fortunately for Oro Valley, the owner of Catalina Care
is part of that minority and this is why we need to embrace and truly
partner with this business for the betterment of our community. As we all
know, if a business is not generating enough revenue to operate efficiently
they will suffer and not have growth and possibly risk closure which would
then mean that another business owner who sees this as just a money
making opportunity could come into our community and carry out their less
than ethical intentions in their pursuit of profits over people.
• Mr. Cottrell and I have discussed at length projects and involvement in the
community to truly help educate our community, be a socially responsible
business partner and even contribute and donate to our community. Mr.
Cottrell has demonstrated that he has a genuine interest in bettering our
community and helping it grow and being on what I call "the good side" of
this movement.
Thank . • or yo e,
Ad°
Monica L J Ismay
If you would like to email me with any questions or to inquire about information
that I discussed; I can be reached via email at
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I grew up in the 70's with my father who was constantly
getting high on marijuana and spending all the monies
he had on weed. My mother would crochet and make
crafts just to put food on the table, handmade our
clothes and did what she had to do just so we could
survive.She even went barefoot so that my sister and I
could have shoes on our feet. My father was
irresponsible in every sense of the word. I had no
respect for him and for always putting his marijuana
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first. I had so much hurt and anger inside of me,that I
would deliberately search the house and garage for his Dosing
stash and misplace his drugs on purpose.When I was fl ot t
eleven years old, I got the courage to flush a gallon bag
of his marijuana down the toilet. St
. -
As a young girl,and later as a young woman, I could
never see the positives in marijuana because most of ttWch
my life, all I had seen was the negative effects it had (32-3p co-8730
-until now. I did some research and realized that I was
misinformed about marijuana and that the"Reefer
Madness" mentality I had all along was wrong. I saw
1*,
that it was not just being used as a recreational drug,
but that this wonderful plant had so many useful _
benefits!
I was being told by friends,family members,and even
co-workers about their parents,grandparents,aunts,
uncles and _
even their
siblings taking
I A ;t',114. For us,
cannabis in
" .
- • --,
some form to 0. - • black
help with their . 4-
„..
chronic
illnesses,pain,
PTSD (Post-
MarysiS
Traumatic Stress Disorder),and to help ease the side
effects of chemotherapy. I spent hours reading through
articles and watching documentaries. I became
dumbfounded but yet so very excited about the
•
positive benefits that Cannabis provided.Cannabis has
become a safe alternative drug that has been treating
and curing people of all ages-from children to the
elderly— who have a variety of illnesses and disorders
such as sleeping disorders,eating conditions,skin
problems,seizures,and cancer.
http://unitedpatientsgroun.com/blog/2014/05/05/the-benefits-of-cannabis-and-how-it-helps... 5/19/2016
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Cannabis has been being used by man for centuries.
Dating back to 2000BC,the Chinese have used
cannabis as an anti-inflammatory to help with
rheumatoid arthritis. In western medicine,as early as
the 1700's, it was used as a way to treat musclo-
skeletal pain,and, in folk medicine,it was used as a
remedy for cancerous ulcers and tumors.
There are
different
strains of
marijuana and
11111 1111 each has a
special use.
There is the
indica strain
which helps
with sleeping problems,pain and provides a feeling of
calmness.The saliva strain infuses one's body with
energy and helps stimulate appetite.There are many
ways of taking marijuana besides smoking it. It comes
as tincture with drops which are placed under the
tongue, comes as an ointment or cream for arthritis,can
be baked in foods such as cookies,muffins,and
brownies,as oil for the control of seizures, and in so
many more useful ways.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA),from 2002-2008,
the number of those using marijuana tripled among
those aged 55 to 59 years old.Young people are no
longer the primary ones using marijuana: it is now the
baby boomers who are retiring from work,
encountering the aches and pains of old age, and
remembering the beneficial qualities of marijuana use.
There are so many elderly who are taking prescription
medications with the resulting side effects such as
nausea,
seizures,and
http://unitedpatientsgroup.com/blog/2014/05/05/the-benefits-of-cannabis-and-how-it-helps... 5/19/2016
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emotional 404
problems. '414.
Some senior
.474,1 d
1,utot -.is,
citizens are
being -
overmedicated
due to their physicians prescribing them additional
drugs to help with the side effects of their initial
prescriptions. But now,doctors,advocates,and the
elderly themselves have discovered the wonders of
cannabis and what it can do.They are no longer feeling
sick and tired and have realized that they can get by
with fewer medications or with no narcotics use at all.
Cannabis is helping seniors to cope with ailments such
as the following:
• Reduced appetite
• Low energy
• Insomnia
• Mental confusion
• Pain associated with inflammation of joints and
stiffness of limbs
• Agitation from degenerative and/or dementia
related diseases
• Glaucoma
Dr. Robert Melamede,an associate professor at the
University of Colorado,testified as an expert witness in
a Canadian court that the cannabinoids in marijuana
"staves off inflammation and delays the onset of auto-
immune diseases, inhibits the formation of Alzheimer's
disease and can help treat or even cure some types of
cancer.Cannabinoids have curative or at least palliative
properties." He also stated that cannabis is safer than
aspirin and it restores balance in our bodies to help
fight illnesses.
Israeli professors Raphael Mechoulam and Yechiel
Gaoni worked with THC,the active ingredient of
httn://unitedoatientsgroup.com/blog/2014/05/05/the-benefits-of-cannabis-and-how-it-helns... 5/19/2016
p
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cannabis,and what it was capable of doing in the health
support of senior citizens.These researchers from Tel
Aviv University in Israel decided to do a study with 19
residents from the Hadarim Nursing Home.
The residents ranged in age from 69 to 101 years old
and all were suffering from different chronic ailments
such as chronic pain, muscle spasms,loss of appetite,
and tremors. In this study,they all were treated with
medical cannabis in various forms of vapor,powder,oil,
and smoke three times a day for a year.Staff from the
nursing home and the researchers monitored them for
signs of improvement in their conditions and for their
quality of life. 17 patients achieved and/or maintained a
healthy weight, reduced their muscle spasms,tremors,
pain and stiffness in their joints.Almost all of the
patients who used cannabis actually slept longer and
better.Those who had post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD)found cannabis use helped with reducing their
flashbacks and nightmares. Researchers also noticed
that there was a decline in both the number and dosage
of some of the prescribed medications patients were
taking including pain relievers,mood stabilizers,and
anti-psychotics. 72%of the patients ended up reducing
http://unitedpatientsgroup.com/blog/2014/05/05/the-benefits-of-cannabis-and-how-it-helps... 5/19/2016
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their medication intake by an average of 1.7 meds per
day.
To sum it all up,cannabis (marijuana) has so many
useful benefits for mankind. It seems so unfair that the
elderly and sick that are in nursing homes and hospitals,
are being t;:411/
prohr •ted N �• �' - i�F r
from using s ',
cannabis to
relieve
..
•
fi• r; ..
their -� • � •
-ei4; -
ailments i`�(�'�`t:, h.
and4 r
suffering.
This is due to fear. Fear of facilities losing federal funds,
fear of judgment and stigma of allowing cannabis use
among the elderly,and on the federal level with it being
illegal.According to worldwide research,there are
indications that further experimental opportunities
should be more available with targeted populations
including the terminally ill,those with chronic or
intractable conditions,and the elderly.These groups
are likely to show the most benefits from cannabis use,
but who also have the fewest alternative options
available and least options for misuse.There are
currently marijuana advocates that are trying to get
marijuana classified as a Schedule 1 drug so it can be
used to help those in need. It would be wonderful to see
more doctors, hospitals,nursing home organizations,
and our federal government to give patients the choice
to have medical marijuana as an option-just like any
other medication.
Bio: The above is a
guest post by Brenda
Abbott,Executive
if - Assistant at Saint Jude
Retreats,an
http://unitedpatientsgroup.comlblog/2014/05/05/the-benefits-of-cannabis-and-how-it-helps... 5/19/2016
"[he Benefits of Cannabis and How it Helps the Sick and Elderly: A Perspective from St. ... Page 7 of 11
alternative to
SAINT." U DE traditional substance
RI. use treatment.Saint
Jude Retreats
provides a program for people with substance use
problems that concentrates on self-directed positive
and permanent change. Through the program, we offer
the opportunity for individuals to self-evaluate and
explore avenues for life enhancement.
Resources
Rannals, L. (2013,January 24). Marijuana's medicinal
value vindicated once again,this time for the elderly
[Web log message]. Retrieved from
http://www.redorbit.cominews/health/1112770306/medicinal-
benefits-ofmarijuana-elderly.
St.Pierre,A. (2012, November 3). Norml's eleven
surprising things about marijuana that seniors need to
know[Web log message]. Retrieved from
http://blog.norml.org/2012/11/03/normis-eleven-
surprising-things-about-marijuana-that-seniors-need-
to-know/.
Medical marijuana and aging[Web log message].
(unknown,unknown unknown). Retrieved from
http://medicalmarijuana.com/experts/expert/title.cfm?
artl D=826
Aghajanian, L. (2013,August 23).Why the elderly
should get marijuana [Web log message]. Retrieved
from http://www.alternet.org/drugs/why-elderly-
should-get-marijuana
Unknown. (unknown). Cannabis use in nursing homes-
an emerging issue[Web log message]. Retrieved from
http://berkeleypatientscare.com/2011/12/13/cannabis-
use-in-nursing-homes-an-emerging-L.
http://unitedpatientsgroup.com/blog/2014/05/05/the-benefits-of-cannabis-and-how-it-helps... 5/19/2016
The Benefits of Cannabis and How it Helps the Sick and Elderly: A Perspective from St. ... Page 8 of 11
Gomez,G. (2010, February 23). Marijuana smoking on
rise for seniors [Web log message]. Retrieved from
http://patients4medicalmarlivana.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/marijuana-
smoking-on-rise-for-seniors/
Unknown.(2013, May 27). Medical marijuana helps
seniors sleep,contend with other problems of aging
[Web log message]. Retrieved from
http://patients4medicalmarijuana.wordpress.com/2013/05/271-
marijuana-helps-seniors-sleep-c..
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Debunkinl
t ;
- The
MMJ Interestinl
• ' Demograr Rise of
Seniors
within
Medical
Marijuana
?ci;1.2
Drew 1ri 8,
Bright
Wait til they see how effective it
is for Alzheimer's and Diabetes!!
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