Hello SVCG Members, For those of you who aren’t yet aware, on Monday night the Sonoma city council voted 5-0 in favor of investigating an option to accommodate a dispensary in Sonoma. The council also expressed interest in learning more about manufacturing and testing labs. The entire discussion, including public comments, takes place from 1:31:35 - 3:06:00, here: https://sonomacity.civicweb.net/document/9619?splitscreen=true&media=true We are relieved to claim some victory. But, the battle is far from over. We don't know how many emails/phone calls may have been made to the council over the weekend, but we really appreciate those who contributed on that front. Even on such short notice, they helped lay groundwork for Monday night’s meeting. However, if it wasn't for the compelling statements made by 3 former Mayors and the strength Michelle Ramsland showed at the podium as she invoked her husband Carlos “Big Dog” Campos, another of our members and a huge advocate for medicinal cannabis, who we just lost to cancer, that vote was likely on track for 3-2 against any future consideration of a dispensary. We cannot count on that support next round. Nor can a small handful of us do this alone. One of our founding members, former Mayor Ken Brown, said on our page today, “it's going to take all of us.” Please, if you are a member of our group and haven’t yet, come to our Facebook page. See what we’re up to, read the comments, add some of your own. If you haven’t signed our online petition, please do, at: https://www.change.org/p/sonoma-valley-cannabis-group-establish-a-medicinal-cannabis-dispensary-with-delivery-in-the-city-of-sonoma-ca Share it with your contacts and invite your like-minded friends to join our group. We need help, whether it's calls, or emails, or especially coming to the city council meetings and even more importantly, lining up to speak at the podium. There are 173 of us right now. We became members of SVCG out of need for ourselves, or out of compassion for family members or friends, and for all those out there in dire straits whom we do not even know. If we truly want to make a difference, it's up to all of us to help ourselves. Best, Gil Latimer Ken Brown Jewel Mathieson