It's a no-brainer, Win/Win proposition = the citizenry will be well served and the city will make a lot of $ ...

As usual, ignorant legislators recognize no distinction between medical and recreational use of Cannabis. That is one of the reasons that the medical cannabis research has been so slow. For medical use (suggested by a licensed medical professional) there should not be any added tax. If you want to treat recreZtional use of Cannabis as alchol or cigarettes and tax it, that's OK if voted in, but dropping that boom on the many who depend on cannabis to help them deal with known problems is an absurdity and grossly prejudiced unnecessary control.

Don't we have enough other and more important issues? People know where to buy the stuff. We don't need it for sale in our town. Soooo inappropriate. Yes. I wonder sometimes whether people are on crack when they make decisions. Trying to be nice here, but the massive number of completely inappropriate local government decisions over the last 15 years and the consequential overcrowding, traffic and other horrors have made Mountain View an undesirable place to live except for transient /short term contract workers and commuters.

What the heck has happened here? How much of this is corporate Google greed?

I agree with Really, seriously.... our city is getting worse and worse. Let Los Altos open a pot shop!

The Council's desire to tax cannabis is a perfect storm of ignorance and greed. Their willingness to ban cultivation of this miraculous herb is similarly misguided. Future generations will look back on cannabis prohibition accurately as a racist crime against humanity. Those who see clearly and fight bravely to end this crime will be recognized as heroes.

Cannabis is one of the most useful and safe botanical medicines in the world, able to ameliorate and treat literally *hundreds* of mental and physical ailments much more safely than any prescription drug. Cannabis should be widely available for anyone who wants it. Statistically safer than peanuts or strawberries, cannabis in its raw form should NOT be taxed. It is the right of every human on earth to use botanical medicines free from excessive government regulation or suppression.

What will the exact conditions of recreational marijuana? Can people above 18 buy at a shop and smoke outside in designated areas the same as tobacco smokers? Will there be places like hookah restaurants where you can sit to smoke? And when will this begin?

I use marijuana to ease constant nerve pain. It is more effective than prescription drugs with no side effects. The prescription drugs have destroyed my digestive tract. I'd be very grateful to buy such wonderful and effective medicine close to home.

When my children reached drinking age, I did not have to explain to them that just because they could now legally drink alcohol, they necessarily had to drink a quart of scotch that very day and every day thereafter.

Just because you have a right to do something, does NOT mean that you should rush out and do it.

What's this juvenile streak on the Mountain View City Council? What's up with all the "Me too! Me too! Me too!" attitude? What's the rush? Do we really want to become the weed capital of Silicone Valley? Is driving to San Francisco or San Jose to get pot such a hardship when you have $200-$300 to blow on some quality doobies?

Is the City so desperate for cash that it has to have the cannabis revenue? Is the tax deal with Google really that bad? Or the city really that financially irresponsible? If so, why doesn't the City just sell joints, blunts and spliffs out of the City Hall building?

Please consider that sometimes, "Not in my backyard" is a good thing!

One side seems to be arguing with name calling and stereotyping, the other side with logic and empathy.

I honestly don't believe in the reading comprehension skills of some of the commentators of this thread. The article was fairly clear on what is happening.

In 2009 we were prepared to bring safe, affordable and secure access to medicinal cannabis for the sick patients of Mountain View. Thanks to some folks jumping the gun, Matt Lucero, a Campbell resident, owner of Buddy's to name one blatant offender. With some bad advice from our Chief of police to our lovely City Attorney Jannie Quinn,a San Jose resident, after a year of "study sessions" the city council said NO to medical cannabis here in the city that I was born and raised in 50 years ago. Here is a link for those short memories...

Web Link

I suppose that now that the city can tax recreational marijuana they stand to make some money...but wait! I thought Marijuana is Illegal at the Federal level? Oh yea it is...but we are "sanctuary city" that doesn't care what the Federal Government says?
Shame on you Jannie! Feel lucky you are not an elected official! Sorry about your commute from SJ.
Done ranting...

I use CBD for pain relief from surgeries. As for someone with chronic back pain and had surgeries for it, CBD is more effective than opioids. I refuse to take opioids, as they make me drowsy and sleepy. CBD helps with pain relief and inflammation without any negative side effects, so I can go on with my day without problem. CBD doesn't hinder my thinking like opioids and very safe when eaten. I have had tremendous help with only CBD and I believe it is an extremely effective medicine.

People opposing cannabis, why don't you oppose any establishment selling alcohol?
The social ills the the alcohol dispensaries cause is actual. Documented lives lost every single day from alcohol. Alcohol affects the rational decision making area of the brain, as the comments show.
Medical cannabis has been used with great success and minimal issues here for over 20 years. I fear someone drinking alcohol more than I do someone using cannabis. Besides, the CBD strains don't even have a psycho-active effect 9doesn't make you high, just alleviates the symptoms of many medical conditions.
Also, I'm a huge proponent of State Rights!
Before you scream about others using cannabis, put down that bottle of wine forever before you begin to speak. Otherwise you'll look like someone saying we should all stop eating pie, while you gorge on cake.
The facts of the societal dangers as well as common sense drove this decision. Remember, it's been going on for over 20 years now. The only issues seem to be between people's ears.

I am glad to see our council addressing this proactively. Voters legalized this product and our city should prepare for how it will be sold. But, I think they should ultimately wait to see what the state comes up with for regulations before they pass their own to avoid duplication and possible confusion that might be unnecessary.

I also oppose the idea of adding their own local taxation. They get their share of sales tax. Council recognizes the struggle of brick and mortar shops, so why would they want the local shops to have built-in higher prices due to a local tax? Also, one of the hopeful goals of legalization is to end the illegal trade that fuels so much crime and illegal land use. High taxation on the legal trade will provide incentive for a black market.

A stoned disarmed population is much easier to control... Think about it... ;-)

Grumpy OP: I was going to say something similar, now I don't have to. Thanks.

I have an idea for the empty Printers Inc. space. Snack shop. To add to the Vice Mayor's suggestion, after dinner, dessert, and wacky weeedis on Castro St., finish your perfect Mountain View evening out with an extra-large bag of Doritos and Twizzlers.

If retail space is lacking, the weed could be sold out of the mobile homes parked up and down Shoreline. It would rival Amsterdam's coffee shop experience. Each Toke Truck would offer a different plant blend and growing region. Put Mountain View on the map!

Can't get enough of the Boomers on this article complaining about "jazz cigarettes" that these young kids are getting hopped up on.

Worth pointing out that the term "pot shops" in the headline is already quite biased and derogatory. The correct term is "cannabis."

"A stoned disarmed population is much easier to control... Think about it... ;-)"

OK, I am thinking about it, trying to find an example and I just did. Back in the 60's there was an entire youth population who would very frequently get stoned, far more so than today's youth by all accounts. They were also the uncontrollable protesters who were instrumental in stopping the Vietnam War. The government would have loved to get them under their control, but it was simply impossible.

Thanks for telling us to think about it. We were able to refute your premise by doing so. Do you have an example of a society where your theory plays out?

Technology will make this debate moot. Brick and mortar stores are so last century.

Just say: "Alexa, two doobies of Tacoma Coma, one King Kush and Double Diesel please" and, in short order, Amazon will deliver some organic, locally sourced weed by a micro drone direct from our own Mountain View Whole Food store. Maybe a complimentary bag of crisps as well...

So you want to legalize pot in the city. Did you forget that it is illegal under federal law... State law doesn't matter.

Oh that's right we live in a sanctuary city, county, state whatever you want to call it so you can do anything. When are all you feel good liberals going to understand that there are laws.

Pot should remain a medicine and only a medicine for those who need it.. To do otherwise only creates another social problem in this city.

I am not surprised by the city council because they only look at what's popular and profitable.

I am not amazed anymore at the arrogance of this left coast mentality. you'll figure it out in time but stupid is as stupid does.

God I wish they only sold it in brownie form. I don’t care if you get stoned, but don’t make me smell it. Ugh.

They do, as well as other edibles. I feel the same irritation about cigarette smoke or when a woman wears too much perfume.

Oh, sorry, I missed the "Only". At least there IS an edible version. No such luck with perfumes and cigarettes ;)

Use of cannibis for medical conditions is fine but, given the already very distracted population, recreational cannibis is the last thing that's needed! Mtn. View can find better ways to increase its income.

"MV Resident" wrote: "I have an idea for the empty Printers Inc. space"

Right idea, just not quite the right address. 420 Castro, across the street, was recently vacant, leading some locals to ponder what a perfect site it would be for recreational cannabis (given the number's significance in this context). But the address was taken by purveyors of another class of popular often-recreational self-medications.

420 Castro now another Caffeine Shop? I medicate myself at home almost every morning. A 'glass of red' at the evening meal. And sometimes an evening out at a restaurant or drinking establishment (or morning at a Coffee House)

So, you cannot smoke in a restaurant (or bar!) so maybe we just need to have local code for Magic Brownie Houses. Don't take a toke in a restricted public place however!

just do it Council

signed, not stoned since the 70's

Agree with the other poster regarding the smell of marijuana - I always think it is a skunk at first when I smell it and then I realize. (tobacco smoke also makes me nauseous). Would prefer it not in downtown Mtn View and new San Antonio Center wafting through the air. Would be better at seedier strip malls which have liquor stores and tobacco shops- away from people strolling around. Agree home delivery sounds like the best idea as then is enjoyed in private and no-one is bothered by the smell.

I cant wait for medical crack!

These should not be allowed within one mile of any school, so basically the only place in the city where it should be allowed is next to the Amphitheater. I'm actually ok with opening one (and only one) pot shop in the city, if it's next to the Amphitheater. Visitors are already getting high out of their minds, wrecking infrastructure, committing assaults, in some cases murders, so I don't see the harm that one pot shop in that location can do. But the pot shop operators should be made to pay the salary of 1-2 MVPD officers to be on duty during operating hours, especially during concerts.

If I can go buy beer at every local corner store, there's no reason why I shouldn't be able to buy marijuana as well.

The stupidity and prejudice of many members of our population is appalling. If the City taxes alcohol, then there is no reason NOT to tax pot---EXCEPT---we must learn to differentiate between recreational Pot, and medicinally helpful Cannabis. Medicinal alcohol is not taxed the same as recreational. The same should be true of Cannabis. It is really too bad that so many people are swayed by prejudice without knowledge.

Glad you aren't on any rules committees, haha.
I get it though, I have a lot of restrictions I'd like to place on the other guy as well...as long as it discomforts the other guy and not me. We're similar that way.

Alan L.: Cannabis is a plant and should NOT, in its raw form, be taxed. We do not tax prescription drugs, we do not tax botanical herbs, we do not tax tomatoes or strawberries. As cannabis is, according to the DEA, "safer than many foods we commonly consume" (DEA Ruling, 1988), there is no reason to tax it other than 1. ignorance or 2. greed.