To the Editor:
The Fillmore City Council is considering the issue of medical marijuana and will vote on an ordinance during their August 9th council meeting. There are three elements to the proposed ordinance; dispensaries, personal cultivation and home delivery.
When I talk to other people about the issue and the upcoming vote, I notice two things; first, most residents I talk to prefer to maintain the current ban on medical marijuana. The second thing I’ve discovered is that most people aren’t even aware that the issue is before the council and that things in Fillmore are about to change.
The people I talk to who want to maintain the ban don’t want others to have to go without needed relief from medical issues. However, it’s important to recognize that the medical marijuana industry brings certain elements to a community. Fillmore does not want these elements in our town and those who need to obtain marijuana for medical use will still be able to obtain it the same way they do now.
There will be an informational forum held at City Hall on July 25th. It’s important that every resident of Fillmore be there to let the city council hear your voice. Each voice truly does matter.
Tim Holmgren
Fillmore

***

To the Editor:
To the citizens and families of Fillmore…
Please come to the “EDUCATION NIGHT” at City Hall and listen to those who want to grow, dispense and deliver this product within the city limits and those who oppose it. Let the City Council know your concerns and dislikes of the operation being brought here. It will be held on July 25 at 6:30pm at Fillmore City Hall. Hope to see you there! (Note: the area proposed for this product to be grown has been identified). We need you! The future of our town and its youth depends on your voice of disapproval to the City Council.
Thank you!
Dan Mathews
Fillmore

***

To the Editor:
The flowing letter was sent in regards to the Sespe Creek co-op off Grand Avenue. I did add in another letter to not allow any light to leave property as well as notify all neighbors at least 2 mile radius so they are aware of what is being grown. The next meeting for those who wish to act on this matter is Wednesday 20th 2016 @ 5:30 at Saint Francis church 1048 W. Ventura St .The City forum is July 25th 6:30 at the city hall on this is subject.
May 25, 2016
Dear Ventura County Supervisors,
I am writing you in regards to the letter you put in the newspaper May 18th asking for community input about pot farms. I found this request a bit strange since you all voted in January to ban the production or sales. I live in the unincorporated area that you are proposing to do this in. I actually live a few miles from the one that is already in production and sales here in the Fillmore area. Each night I get to look at the grow lights that in my opinion cause light pollution to the area. I wonder first why this being is done if you all band it. Why do you ask for our opinion now when things are already in production and being sold? I noticed that you did not include Fillmore as to one of the areas that you were holding meetings even though we are directly impacted by this issue because it is at our front door.
I am as you may be able to tell, opposed to the pot farms.
I watched on the news how the 8 member family who were killed recently happen to own a pot farm. Did this have anything to do with their farm? I hope not. My understanding is that Pot shops can only accept cash as payments because it cannot go through banks and this leads for the need of the owner to have firearms on the premises to secure their product and safe full of cash.
I recently attended a parent event hosted by our Fillmore Unified School district that educated the parents of the dangers of pot use on the young brain. The Ventura county Behavioral Health talked to us about how Marijuana is 3 times more powerful than it was in the past. How it will drop the IQ of a youth 8 points under the age of 25. How this is not even a drug that REQUIRES a prescription but just a Dr. recommendation, and some of those “doctors “ have just received training via the internet and have some sort of certificate that allows them to sub mitt these recommendations.
If you plan on allowing this into our communities then you should really consider where you put them. Yes we are a small, poor community but do we really need to add to the problems of more drug use in our town or community’s like ours. Send it to Westlake.
The community’s that are going to be selling or producing should be given double the funds and personal for police services ,because they may be needed more often to help with drug related issues. A county funded facility for substance abuse or hospital would be needed for those who get caught up in the drug(9% become addicted) and would need immediate care who may not last the 15 min drive to Santa Paula( longer if we get the roundabout). A County funded trade school since our students may not make it to graduation because of drug use side effects. Require that anything sold in Ventura county Must be PRESCRIBED by a licensed Doctor along with specific dosage.
I understand the need to help those who suffer but, you and I very well know that it is just opening the door to younger kids being exposed to it by family members who use and the possible second hand smoke or accidental ingestion of this drug. Are we really willing to do this to our infants and young adults who will be living in these homes?
I know it is just a matter of time before we will be like Colorado , so why not give them a call and ask how they are doing, is it worth doing, ask teachers how the kids are, ask employers how their workers are, ask emergency personal have they noticed a difference.
I would implore you to invite someone from the Ventura County Behavioral Health to give you their educational facts on how this will/may affect our communities who are being asked to invite this into our world.
Thank you for your time
Kathy Pace
Fillmore