HomeMy WebLinkAbout021726-01.1 DUFRESNE, DAVE 021526
Marie Sunseri
From:davedufresne@comcast.net
Sent:Sunday, February 15, 2026 3:41 PM
To:Marie Sunseri
Subject:Support for Exploring Responsible Cannabis Retail in Danville, Subject 1.1 of our Town
Council Meeting Feb 17, 2026
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Dear Mayor Arnerich and Members of the Town Council,
As a long term resident of Danville, I am writing to respectfully express my support for our Town
continuing to explore what regulated cannabis retail could look like in our community.
I am the sole, full time, caregiver for my wife that suffers from Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease.
Caregiving is a 24/7, 365 day per year challenge. Though often exhausted by the end of the day, this
task also requires my availability even during the middle of the night. I often use cannabis derived
sleep aids to catch a few hours of sleep, yet still easily awaken to tend to her needs. I find danger in
using prescription sleep aids, or even cannabis products that contain THC and do not use them as I
must be alert to administer medications and aid throughout the day and night. But CBD and CBN
ingredients are effective and safe for me. Further the convenience of finding these products in our
town help adults like me access these legal products without the traffic headaches of buying these
products in other Bay Area cities or towns.
For nearly five years, America’s Finest Hemp Co. operated responsibly in downtown Danville,
serving adults and contributing positively to our local economy. The recent changes under AB 8 and
related state regulations did not occur because of safety failures. Rather, the State chose to move
hemp-derived cannabinoid products into the more tightly regulated cannabis retail framework to
create a more controlled and standardized environment.
In other words, the regulatory shift was intended to increase oversight and safety — not to eliminate
responsible local businesses.
Cannabis policy has evolved significantly over the past decade. Today’s regulated cannabis market is
highly controlled, age-restricted, tracked, tested, and monitored. It is not the unregulated
environment many people still associate with the past.
Additionally, many adults responsibly choose cannabis products as an alternative to more dangerous
substances such as:
• Prescription opioid pain medications
• Sleep medications
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• Anxiety medications
• Alcohol
As a community known for its thoughtful leadership and high standards, Danville has an
opportunity to approach this issue proactively rather than reactively. Exploring what cannabis retail
could look like — with strict standards, local control, and thoughtful zoning — does not mean
lowering our values and charm. It means shaping policy in a way that reflects them.
I respectfully encourage the Town Council to continue exploring a regulated cannabis retail
framework so that responsible local businesses like America’s Finest Hemp Co. have a path forward
under the new state laws.
Thank you for your time, consideration, and continued service to our community.
Sincerely,
Dave DuFresne
Danville Resident for 20 years
1710 Bird Hill Court
Danville, CA. 94526
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