Ban Retail Cannabis Dispensaries - YES

The decision of whether or not to allow retail cannabis dispensaries in Corte Madera was a difficult one for me. When we first considered the issue in December of 2018, I felt that regulating cannabis more strictly than we regulate alcohol would be hypocritical; it seems clear to me that alcohol presents a greater danger to public health and safety, and yet there's a liquor store right across the street from Town Hall.

However, over the ensuing months, my thoughts on the issue began to change. This process began as a result of meetings I had with several doctors and medical researches from Corte Madera and the surrounding areas, who presented to me their views on the medical dangers of cannabis use (data shows a correlation between cannabis use and psychosis).

Their points and the underlying evidence they presented concerned me, but the potential dangers of adult cannabis use alone didn't convince me that we should act to restrict its availability; I firmly believe that adults need to be free to make their own decisions, even if they are what