NEWS
LOCAL
There’s Hope and There’s Help Bakersfield Lawyer Helps City Weigh Options in Cannabis Reform by Victoria Banegas
While city officials in Bakersfield continue to see cannabis collectives as a nuisance, attorney Gabriel Godinez has been working with collectives within the city for years to help change its anti-cannabis attitude, by pitching a medical market that would be fair for collective owners and patients while meeting city standards. According to The Bakersfield Californian, the city has been in a tug of war with collectives for nine years. In June 2012, voters approved Kern County, Measure G, which was put in place to uphold an initiative from 2011 that would place restrictions on cannabis collectives, according
to Ballotpedia. While Measure G was in effect, cannabis supporters vocalized concerns over the initiative’s restrictive nature, and in February 2014, Measure G was invalidated by Kern County Judge, Kenneth Twissleman. This decision was made upon discovery that the county failed to conduct an environmental review before placing the measure on the 2012 ballot. However, Kern County Council member Theresa Goldner pointed out that without Measure G, Twissleman’s ruling presented a situation where there are no winners. According to Goldner, without Measure G the county obtained the ability to create zoning restrictions that would
no longer allow collectives from being run within its territory. During the time that Measure G was being highly debated, Godinez served as a representative for Natural Treatment, one of the 10 collectives that resided in Kern County’s unincorporated land. CULTURE got in touch with Godinez and talked with him about his efforts to re-shape the views of city officials when it comes to cannabis. In an effort to improve the state of medical cannabis in Bakersfield, Godinez told CULTURE that he has presented a number of alternatives to the city, including restricting operation hours, initiating a monthly tax, eliminating signage, providing 24 hour security and even banning edibles. Although these alternatives seemed promising, city officials refused to budge, and as Godinez states, “They are working reactively, not proactively.” Others points Godinez has addressed to city officials are the financial benefits of allowing a legal medical cannabis market, as well as the likelihood of decreasing illegal activity. While Godinez has been working with collectives to change the direction of cannabis legislation in Bakersfield and offering patients reliable, legal sources for medicine, he admits that in order for collectives to gain a victory over the city, they will have to work together. Currently, collectives are doing little to abide by Bakersfield’s current ban after Measure G withstood an appeal with the Fifth Appellate Court of Fresno. According to The Bakersfield Californian, when one collective closes, another opens and city officials aren’t sure how. As the March 1 deadline has been extended for cities to enact cannabis legislation, maybe Bakersfield will weigh its options and loosen up. c
Coalinga Becomes First City in the San Joaquin Valley to Embrace Cannabis As most cities in the San Joaquin Valley are working to ban cannabis following the Medical Marijuana Regulations and Safety Act, Coalinga steps out as a beacon of hope for advocates throughout the region. On Thursday, January 7, the Coalinga City Council Voted unanimously to allow medical cannabis dispensaries to operate within the city as well as allow commercial cultivation and delivery services, according to The Fresno Bee. Councilman Nathan Vosburg backed the decision in a statement he made following the meeting, “We have a large patient need, and those people are currently spending their money elsewhere,” he said. “We can’t stop these people from doing this. Now, we will create a revenue stream that we can control.” Hopefully, this movement will encourage other cities throughout the valley to follow suit, making room for economic opportunity and preventing patients from going to outside sources.
Central Valley Cities Get More Time to Determine Status of Cannabis With the passing of the Medical Marijuana Regulations and Safety Act (MMRSA), many cities in the Central Valley are scrambling to draft out ordinances that will regulate cannabis within their limits. Modeled after Fresno and Kern County regulations, most cities intend on banning the cultivation and distribution of cannabis. Initially, cities had until March 1 to set down cannabis laws but at the beginning of January the author of the MMRSA discovered a loophole in the bill, according to Valley Public Radio. Upon discover of this loophole, state lawmakers are working to amend the bill and give cities more time to determine how they’d like to regulate cannabis. While those in support of the ban believe it is in the best interest for public safety, Brenda Linder, a Fresno lawyer who represents cannabis patients, feels that bans will not be convenient for medical cannabis patients, because they will not have the ability to grow or obtain cannabis.
REVIEWs
strains Available at: Green Cross Collective in Bakersfield.
PR True OG PR True OG is truly a classic OG with all the qualities a cannabis connoisseur would expect—looks, taste and effect. A Pinesol aroma pervades the dank, compact and spongy bud covered with vibrantly orange hairs and a very flattering array of clear trichomes. An extremely pleasant, albeit mild taste pervades your mouth when first inhaled, but it has a surprising sweet back end— we’re talking real booty here. A winner of the High Times Cannabis Cup multiple times, the PR True OG available at the Green Cross Collective in Bakersfield is potent—lay back, close your eyes and trip out potent. Although great for sharing, PR True OG is flawless for being home alone and wanting to lay back and experience the sensual pleasures of the OG strain. This is an excellent smoke for whenever you go to bed and for whatever reason.
Big Al’s OG Available at: Healthy Healing Collective in Bakersfield.
Proprietary strains are often hit or miss, but when they hit, it’s a bullseye. A big hit is found with Big Al’s OG from the Healthy Healing Collective in Bakersfield. A large peat moss green nug covered with salt-like crystal trichomes that, with a bit of squinting, can actually be seen with the naked eye. A strong tea aroma wafts up from a bud that is firm and crunchy with a BBQ potato chip taste. As would be expected from an OG, it goes rapidly to your head and before long you are off in your own world. Expect to become introspective without withdrawing into a cocoon. A fun and uplifting effect will be experienced—most definitely a feel good upper.
Ken’s GDP Attributed to famed cannabis cultivator, Ken Estes, Ken’s GDP is a super-charged Grand Daddy Purple undercut with a very strong essence of OG Kush. Firm, solid nugs with abundant orange hairs nestled in a deep green bud exude an earthy lemon-pine fragrance. GDP is a benchmark strain from which others are judged and the Ken’s GDP available at The Leaf Collective in Bakersfield is a fine example of why that is. Even though the draw is smooth, a very powerful fruity taste with a smoked citrus after-taste is not unusual for GDP based strains. The build-up to a superb GDP nirvana is effortless—sort of like the acceleration of a Lexus where you are doing 100 before you know it. No disorientation here—clear headed, easy to focus, but very stimulating nevertheless.
Available at: Highway 99 Collective in Bakersfield.
Available at: The Leaf Collective in Bakersfield.
Diamond 99 Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but whether you are a girl or a boy, Diamond 99 from Highway 99 Collective in Bakersfield will be your very best friend. Abundantly covered with small droplet-shaped trichomes, an appealing green coloration sets off its classic pineapple pine-cone shape. The large bud is resiliently firm and crumbles into the perfect size for pipes or joints. The taste is mild with a hint of licorice and a tingling in the nostrils. Expect a mellow head effect that flows downward. It is not a sneaker but its progression to a very pleasant mental and physical state is not rapid. This is “chillaxing” green that is perfect to imbibe after a stressful day. Diamond 99 is not for work or situations where concentration is desired. This is really excellent cannabis for PTSD—you will forget.
Harvey Dent Harvey Dent is a proprietary strain of cannabis sold by the Golden State Cooperative in Bakersfield. With no familiar lineage, you don’t have a clue as to what you are getting, but not to worry, this is good stuff. Profligately covered in red hairs and flashy trichomes, the fluffy bud exudes a pronounced pepper aroma with a sharp cheese bite and a classic skunk taste. Most definitely a body effect with strong psychoactive properties, the build-up is a timed rise that allows acclimation for beginners and a very pleasant relaxed uplift for experienced consumers. This is truly a lunchbreak weed, perfect to make even the food in the office cafeteria taste good. It could make concentrating a bit difficult so it wouldn’t be recommended for accountants. If your job involves a modicum of creativity where new ideas are rewarded, then Harvey Dent may be just what you are looking for.
Available at: Golden State Cooperative in Bakersfield.