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2 <br />Thank you for serving as our Councilmember of San Leandro and for all that you do to ensure a healthy and safe city <br />residence and for businesses. <br /> <br />I am writing to you in regards to the proposed medical marijuana ordinance. I am strongly opposed to the proposa <br />allow for medical marijuana dispensaries in San Leandro. I practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner at the Davis St <br />Primary Care Clinic (part of the Davis Street Family Resource Center) in San Leandro and also frequent San Lean <br />several times a week for various purposes. <br /> <br />I provide free medical care to anyone without medical insurance. My patients are primarily residents of <br />Leandro. If medical marijuana dispensaries were placed in San Leandro, it would mean a majority of my patients, w <br />are considered candidates for medical marijuana, would have ready access to it. Medical marijuana can be prescribe <br />anyone with a “serious medical condition” with such diagnoses as anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic nausea, str <br />migraine headaches, and arthritis. Such diagnoses are very common in my practice as well as in any gen <br />population. <br /> <br />While I believe it is important to meet the needs of my patients, medical marijuana also poses very serious he <br />threats. Although marijuana alleviates certain symptoms, it does not locally work on certain areas of the brain <br />causes a multitude of adverse effects. A patient using marijuana becomes seriously impaired in judgment and mo <br />coordination, doubling a driver’s risk for car accidents, thus potentially adding serious safety hazards to <br />Leandro. Additionally, when medical marijuana is used, it results in poor learning and more specifically, when used <br />adolescents, it significantly and permanently lowers their IQ. Therefore the city’s overall academic excellence <br />career success will be compromised, and there is potential for further substance abuse and health problems in <br />future. Marijuana also increases risk for respiratory illnesses and for heart attack by 5 times. It can result in <br />development of psychosis and relationship problems that place the city at increased risk of crimes. For the reas <br />mentioned, I also most definitely do not want my family in a neighborhood with such safety concerns. There are bet <br />safer treatment options available to my patients. <br /> <br />My particular poor socioeconomic patient population already has complications with their physical, social, financ <br />and mental health, and the addition of medical marijuana can definitely make these things worse. A good numbe <br />our patients are also already addicted to other substances (including controlled substances). I do not want to have <br />treat patients for another addictive substance. For those who do not serve a population group like mine, it can ad <br />whole other component of problems to their physical health. <br /> <br />Additionally, with more patients using medical marijuana due to easier access, it not only affects the community <br />large, but it places the responsibility in the hands of the provider. The monitoring of its use and resulting proble <br />encountered socially, financially, academically, and psychologically is not something that I as a provider, my clinic <br />the community would be equipped for. There would be no way for my patients to even be able to afford the pro <br />care and management they may need. <br /> <br />I am asking that you not support the medical marijuana dispensary proposal. Thank you for your consideration of <br />request. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Tiffany Chan, FNP-c, RN, PHN <br />