In an unassuming space in downtown Monterey, just next to the city’s Old Monterey Community Center, Pat Finch wants to put medical marijuana inside a display case. It wouldn’t be sold on the spot or taken off the premises, he says; it would be strictly for educational purposes.
“We want it to be totally above board. We want to be partners with the city,” Finch says. “This whole thing can’t work unless we’re in partnership.”
The city’s response came Jan. 22, when Monterey Housing and Property Manager Rick Marvin sent a letter to Finch’s consultant.
“I am obliged to inform you that the use is unlawful, and the city will not accept or consider the proposal or participate in any further discussion of locating a cannabis use in a city-owned building,” Marvin writes.
Though the building, Alvarado Street’s Osio Adobe, is owned by Monterey, the key sticking point is that city code prohibits marijuana dispensaries, medical or otherwise.
And even though Finch’s draft proposal doesn’t include any medical marijuana changing hands onsite, the code is highly restrictive: “No person shall locate, operate… allow to be operated or aid, abet or assist in the operation of any fixed or mobile marijuana dispensary within the city.”
The code came as the result of an ordinance, which City Council passed by a 3-2 vote in 2011, clarifying the city’s stance on marijuana dispensaries. (Then-councilmen Frank Sollecito and Jeff Haferman voted no.)
“There were a lot of public hearings about whether we should allow this in Monterey,” Monterey Planning Chief Chip Rerig says. “It was a very well-debated matter before council.”
Pebble Beach resident Valentia Piccinini was among those advocating for medical cannabis in Monterey, something she’s done since 2009.
“Now we’re going to have to start educating a new council, and I’m more than happy to do that,” she says. “I want to show them the history behind it. We all got told a bunch of propaganda.”
Piccinini launched a medical cannabis collective, Synchronicity Holistics, two months ago. She’s currently delivering to 20 patients.
“I feel a moral responsibility to get the word out there and provide these products,” she says. “This is truly a remarkable plant.”
Finch’s approach to medical cannabis is much the same. As a longtime health insurance agent, he sees the need.
“It’s not like I’m looking to get rich off of this,” Finch says. “This is a result of several years of people asking me [about medical marijuana].”
The downtown location Finch has his eye on, 380 Alvarado St., is currently home to Monterey Rock and Roll Experience, a music paraphernalia store owned by Larry Chavez. Finch, whose office is upstairs, approached Chavez’s wife, Tammi, who works in health care as an administrator.
Together, they hatched the idea: Tammi would run a for-profit holistic health store, and Finch would operate a nonprofit medical marijuana collective educating people onsite and providing an option for delivery.
Finch hopes to advance the discussion and will participate in a town-hall meeting 3pm Friday, Jan. 30, at Paluca Trattoria on Fisherman’s Wharf.