AN INSIDE LOOK AT A MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY

The Berkeley Patients Group Receives 500 to 600 Patient Visits Each
Day

As the City Council's Public Safety Subcommittee moves forward on
developing a new medical cannabis dispensary ordinance, expected to
pave the way for at least one nonprofit collective to open its doors
in Martinez if approved by the full Council, many residents remain
unfamiliar with the actual day-to-day operations of such facilities.
The Gazette reporter went undercover this week to check out a
10-year-old, 2,500 square foot dispensary in Berkeley.

Most of the Berkeley Patients Group is housed in a modern, airy
addition to a 1970s-era converted apartment building on busy,
four-lane San Pablo Avenue, between University and Ashby Avenues.

Along the street-side sidewalk are several well-cared-for rose bushes
blooming abundantly, in places almost disguising the six-foot high
chain link fence that rims the roughly one-acre property.

During the collective's business hours, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.,
sections of the fence roll back to admit walk-ins and patients'
vehicles into and exiting the parking lot, but most parkers are out of
luck during the busy hours when every spot is taken. Additional street
parking comes with feeding the meter.

A security guard is stationed at the front gate, and patients walking
in via the succulent-decorated and sleek steel entrance are politely
greeted by another hospital-gloved employee at the front door, who
requests to see an I.D. and doctor's prescription.

Entering, the patient is directed by the doorman to once again present
paperwork to the secretary seated behind a desk in a wood-paneled
waiting room. Bouquets of fresh-cut flowers grace every surface, and
waiting for the secretary to enter patient data into the computer and
verify the prescription, patients can peruse a wall-full of
cannabis-related publications, newsletters and the kind of illustrated
informational pamphlets one finds in a typical doctor's office, albeit
these titles include Medical Cannabis and Muscular Dystrophy and
Medical Cannabis and Cancer.

The secretary explains that one can come to the dispensary only twice
a day, and that after the first visit, one only needs to bring I.D. as
the prescription papers have been recorded.

Once the secretary has verified the doctor's Rx, the patient is
directed to walk through a communal cafe area, past the sales counter
for live plants and coffee, tea and non-pot cookies, to the dispensary
selling room.

Entering the sales room, another seated guard requests to see I.D.,
and carefully explains to first timers how the whole thing works.

"Up on the screen are the medications in stock today," the kind but
firm guard explains, belying a well-rehearsed spiel. "A star means $10
and a half moon signifies $5. Please tell the clerk this is your first
time, and sit there until you are called to the counter," indicating a
row of seats along the wall. "Welcome to the Berkeley Patients Group."

A couple of minutes later, the new patient is called up to the
counter, where the clerk brings out samples upon request, reminiscent
of a visit to Tiffany's. If the patient is unfamiliar with the subtle
physiological differences between Super Kush, Space Queen and All-Star
Jack Frost, the clerk asks the physical and mental reaction desired.

"Do you want more of a body high for pain, or do you want to be
mentally alert yet calmed?"

Having decided on the quality and quantity, the patient pays with cash
or credit card, is asked if she wants a Customer Rewards card - just
like Safeway - and sent on her way.

The entire trip to fulfill a prescription took about 20 minutes,
similar to Walgreens or Longs except without the option to shop for
groceries simultaneously.

Exiting the selling room, the patient is welcomed to take a seat in
the cafe, where other patients of many body types, skin colors and
ages chat, and some sample the product.

Contrary to some stereotypes, the room was not covered in a thick fog
of pot smoke, but the odor of cannabis was definitely detectable.
Outside the building, however, it was not.

At 4:30 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon, the energy in the dispensary
common room was no different from an 8:30 a.m. stop at the Main Street
Starbucks, an invisible upbeat tempo of people sharing ideas and
friends greeting friends.

According to Berkeley Council members Kriss Worthington and Darryl
Moore, the Berkeley Patients Group serves 5000 patients annually.

Brad Senesac, Communications Director for the BPG, said Friday the
dispensary serves 500 to 600 patients daily.

"But we're a completely different model than those found in any other
city in the world," said Senesac, explaining that 86 percent of
Berkeley residents voted in favor of Prop. 215; hence, there was
overwhelming community support for the dispensary as well.

Martinez city leaders also visited the Berkeley Patients Group to see
operations firsthand.

On a recent Saturday, Mayor Rob Schroder and Council member Mike
Menesini took a tour of the facility organized by prospective Martinez
dispensary operator Larry Flint.

The following day, Council member Lara DeLaney and Martinez Police
Commander Gary Peterson toured the BPG facility as well, said
Schroder; they broke up the visit into two parts in an effort to avoid
violating the Brown Act.

"To me it wasn't the clinical kind of atmosphere that most of these
self-proposed operators talk about," said Schroder, adding that Flick
assured him his business plan would not model the BPG's. Schroder said
patients smoking onsite disconcerted him.

"To see so much marijuana at one spot, it was bam, in your face. I was
trying to keep an open mind, it's my obligation to read everything and
listen to testimony. This hasn't even gotten to full Council yet."

The current Martinez dispensary ordinance draft under consideration by
the Public Safety Committee stipulates that "cannabis shall not be
consumed on the premises of the dispensary... includ[ing] the actual
building, vehicles, as well as any accessory structures, parking
areas, or other surroundings located within 200 feet of the
dispensary's entrance...[and] patients shall not consume cannabis
acquired from the dispensary in public places."