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– Commentary, opinion and interview with CAMS -
Here’s the uptake on the only legal medicinal marijuana dispensary in the Morongo Basin. I met today with the CAMS Human Resources Manager, Debi Rodriques. Sorry about the photo (that’s not Ms. Rodriques). It’s used to draw attention to the serious cause and effects of the Y.V. City Council to close the doors of the CAMS dispensary.
It was a unanimous 5-5 vote for shutdown by a Council of opportunists.
Here’s how causation works: Yucca kicks CAMS, CAMS lays off workers, No-Kill Animal shelter looses monthly CAMS funding of $4,000 plus, may face closure. Poor little cats and dogs may loose their shelter and could go hungry, or worse. Who know the plight of the Morongo Basin Human Society. They are struggling to keep their dogs & cats fed and doors open.
In turn, local veterans, handicapped and seniors will be forced out in the streets alongside drug dealers for their legal medication (as opposed to pandering to insatiable giant pharmaceutical corporations’ dangerous psychotropic and mind-numbing pain killing drugs). Further, many low-income legal users of the harmless botanical plant just can’t afford the expense of going to the nearest dispensary in Palm Springs.
All because the Yucca Council moves to close the only legal medicinal marijuana dispensary in the Basin. Everyone looses. Even the Council may lose, booted out of office. I think think they all fear that. Especially Franky (‘The Jerk’) Luckino.
The Yucca Valley City Council insane vacillating and jacking around CAMS has dastardly consequences. Frankey Luckino started it all with his hid-the-ball bozo approach as rotating mayor. Apparently, they want to stay in step with the Board of Supervisors (who voted for a county moratorium on legal dispensaries).
They also placated a silly religious crusade made-up of a handfuls of locals and a gaggle of out-of-towners who could care less about our pets, laid-off 
workers, veterans and others who have their medical cards to legally buy buds of a medicinal plants with healing and other properties of THC (marijuana). The do-gooders are on a mission for God, (like the “Blues Brothers”). Headed by some damn demagogue called Paul Chabot, who’s running for a 63rd Assembly seat.
Speaking of Franky Luckino, he looks pretty spaced-out to me. Looks like he’s had too
I've had a little too much of something, besides stupid pills, but I''ll never tell
much of something in his day.
Anyway, the YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL SAYS MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY HAS TO GO. The Council has directed the town planning commission to create a permanent prohibition within the town on legal dispensaries. Franky (‘The Jerk’) wanted a complete shutdown. “Lay’em all off!” the Christmas Grinch proclaimed.
Here’s the Fundamental reasons of each Council member for kicking dogs, scorning cats, callously causing workers to be laid-off during the Holiday Season and in haste becoming an anti-veteran hick town :
Frank (‘The Jerk’) Luckino- Safety issues. Mr. Luckino feels that this product and service is unsafe.
George Huntington-Monopoly issues. Mr Huntington feels that if he lets one dispensary stay, he must let more in or be in violation of the law. This is simply not true. Many cities have successfully allowed only one dispensary stay and deemed “compliant with the law” in the eyes of the court.
Bill Neeb-Money issues. Mr Neeb believes that if the town is too hasty to ban, money will be wasted as the State may clear up this whole matter latter in the year and further that a lawsuit can be brought against the city. He is correct in his beliefs. What he is unaware of is that a class action lawsuit will potentionally cost the city a minimum of $500,000 to litigate and if lost could bankrupt the town with a multi million dollar settlement.
Lori Herbel-Location issues. Mrs. Herbel wants a different location. We at CAMS have attempted to move several times in the last year and a half and have been stopped by the planning department at every step. The council needs to make an exception so that we can move.
Chad Mayes-unknown (Duh) . Please call the mayor and make your position known to him.
Morongo Basin Humane Society has taken a serious hit from CAMS; now both CAMS and the MBHS are facing closure. The last clear chance of staying open will be decided at yet another Council meeting in February.
CAMS Human Resources Manager, Debi Rodriques, told this writer there has been a flurry of Council meetings. That they laid-off most of their employees. Rodriques said they’ve cut all funding to the Shelter because they are saving money for legal fees to sue the City.
Merry Christmas to all the CAMS employees and their families who have been laid-off. Merry Christmas to all the animal lovers at the MBHS who surely have no substitute funding to remain open. Nice work Council; may you all have a sorta nice happy Xmas.
Ms. Rodriques points out that Desert Hot Spring thus far has spent $500,000 in legal fees defending a suit brought by a medicinal marijuana group for the same problem. The CAMS webpage states a “minimum of $500,000 to litigate and if lost could bankrupt the town with a multi million dollar settlement. We at CAMS have attempted to move several times in the last year and a half and have been stopped by the planning department at every step.”
It’s my view the City Council (on this issue) is un-American and anti-veteran; they don’t quite fit into a democracy. After all, we have an Assembly Bill AB390, a Senate Bill and the people’s mandate on Prop. 215 pertaining to legal dispensaries. The Council thinks they know best. But they don’t know nothin’.
The good news, Rodriques reports, is her belief that Councilwoman pro temp Lori Herbel and Councilman Bill Neeb may be rethinking their vote. Herbel is reported as saying she didn’t know all the facts (why?) when she voted recently against the CAMS dispensary. Bill Neeb is worried about the headaches of defending a protracted and costly lawsuit. Hence, if they were to change their vote in February, it’s still a 2-3 loss.
Isn’t it interesting to note that the Council authorized CAMS to locate in the Monterrey Business Center, an Y.V. industrial area, even though CAMS made subsequent good faith efforts to move in order to accommodate complainers — the Council kept them there – now they want them to leave? A source previously reported Franky (‘The Jerk’) informed CAMS earlier on to kinda not worry about it (liar, liar). That’s like saying, “Trust me.” I wouldn’t trust you Franky with five bucks to buy a bottle of Thunderbird wine.
CAMS is willing to move into a new location somewhere in City limits, even though where they’re at now is a perfect location. An industrial center.
Since the City Council is uncaring about our furry and lovable doggies and kitties, the Morongo Basin Human Society desperately needs funding, cat and dog food. The Shelter informs this writer their cat and dog food needs are, as follows:
* Pedigree dry dog food
* Wet dog food optional
* Whiskas dry and wet cat food.
Anyone that can help with funding can sent their checks to the Shelter at this address:
Morongo Basin Human Society
HCR #316 F
Joshua Tree, CA 92250
They inform, money is the priority. Keeping the doors open.
Cactus Thorns is working on a drop-off food locations in 29 and Y.V. Stay tuned. For more info, call the MBAS, Michelle Willey, at 760-366-3780.
What else you can do: Call City Hall, leave messages for Council Members to seriously consider rethinking closure of CAMS, and the MBHS. Write Letters to the Editor. Post comments right here in Thorns, or make new posts.
“The ends do not justify the means.” If you use illegal mean to accomplish a legal and even desirable result, the good result does not make the bad means you used justifiable.
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Good for CAMS. I hope they sue the pants off of the City for being imbeciles.
Hi Neighbor Kactuskooler — long time no hear from you in here. I encourage you to post more often. I’m pleased you are giving CAMS a heads-up. They brought lots of business into Yucca Valley. People from all over the Hi-Desert cities and communities visited CAMS because it’s the only dispensary in S.B. County, and all those people, including folks from Riverside County, shopped and spent money in Y.V. and J.T.
The knuckleheads on the Y.V. City Council are doing more harm to the business community and the local economy they are doing good. Had CAMS been a local, out of town or developer from the East, some of the Council would be bed with them. They all need the boot. They all voted to rid Y.V. of this business — who had to layoff most of their employees, and ceased funding the Morongo Basin Animal Shelter $4,000.00 per month. Who knows the faith of the animals?
Warm greetings and wishes for a prosperous new year.