Poll: Should the City of Newark Allow Medical Marijuana Dispensaries?

More than three months since a Newark pot club was raided by police, the public will have a chance to chime in on whether the city should grant conditional use permit to operate.

The public hearing is scheduled for the next Planning Commission meeting on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m in , 37101 Newark Blvd.

NBD, at 7180 Thornton Ave., was by officers with the Southern Alameda County Major Crimes Task Force, which believes the medical marijuana dispensary was operating illegally, according to an agent with the state Department of Justice and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.

Since then, NBD Cannabis Collective has reopened. In addition, a second club called Happy Wellness Center has set up shop on the corner of Jarvis Avenue and Hayley Street.

Happy Wellness opened Aug. 31, according to its Facebook page. Happy Wellness did not respond to calls from Newark Patch requesting comment and the ownership of Happy Wellness is unknown.

Five individuals associated with NBD Cannabis Collective, including owners Teddy Miller of Salinas and Bob Uwanawich of Fremont, were – 30 collectively, including operating without a business license and tax evasion. The case is pending, and the five are due back in court later this month.

Attorneys for NBD Cannabis Collective and its associates have maintained that NBD has not acted unlawfully and announced their plans to .

Newark Patch readers have debated whether the City of Newark should allow medical marijuana dispensaries, including at  in which city council candidates were asked for their perspectives on medical marijuana clubs.

So what are your thoughts? Take our poll below.