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GREEN CROSSES COMING DOWN AT POT DISPENSARY
Manteca officials say it is keeping with low key presence following receipt of citizen complaints
cannabis signs
The green crosses on A frame signs along West Yosemite Avenue in front of Off the Charts marijuana dispensary.

The green crosses on Manteca’s first storefront marijuana dispensary are coming down.

City Manager Tony Lundgren confirmed they would be removed after the city fielded several complaints from Manteca residents about their inclusion on signage for the Off the Charts dispensary now open at  2325 West Yosemite Avenue across from the municipal wastewater treatment plant.

One is on building signage and the other on two A-frame signs near the driveway entrance to the parking lot.

The crosses — similar to the symbol for Red Cross but in green — have been used for a number of years in association with medical marijuana dispensaries.

The Manteca City Council, in the early stages of forming rules and regulations for potential marijuana dispensaries, did not want store names or signage allowed that “screamed” marijuana.

Nor did they want names or building art that may appeal to youth.

Several council members pointed to a cannabis dispensary known as Cookies in Modesto.

They argued it implied the name of the dispensary that is in a high profile location on Orangeburg Avenue backing up to Highway 99 would lead some — especially youth —  to believe it was a bakery or store selling run-of-the-mil cookies.

Manteca Councilman Charlie Halford, who along with fellow council member Dave Breitenbucher initially brought up such concerns when elected leaders were formulating municipal dispensary rules, was pleased by Lundgren’s decision.

Halford Tuesday indicated the stores and their signs shouldn’t be “in your face”

The councilman said customers should have “to find the store.”

That said, as Halford noted, the same green cross in other countries such as France denotes medical services, first aid, or pharmacies.

The decision by Lundgren that the green cross didn’t pass the litmus test the council created and was correctly addressed underscored the city’s commitment to low key dispensaries.

Clearly, a big marijuana leaf in signage would have not made it passed the bureaucratic vetting.

The green cross — which is low key and has other meanings which is why medical marijuana dispensaries initially adopted them —  has become associated with cannabis but not in a blatant manner.

Off the Chart’s clientele is running true to form in what city leaders were told to expect based on similar operations in other California communities.

They tend to be older, prefer a safe and secure setting, like the fact products are tested and potency levels clear, and want a wide selection.

Requirements the city has for the three dispensaries in terms of security and access as well as where they can be located reflect the commitment elected leaders made in the four year process it took for the first dispensary to open.

And of the three locations, Off the Charts is the farthest away from residential and areas heavily trafficked by youth such as fast food places.

It is also the most visible from the street.

The dispensary is open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Off the Charts is planning a grand opening on Valentine’s Day, Friday, Feb. 14.

The other two dispensaries that are yet to open are being prepped on South Main Street behind Dairy Queen and in West Yosemite Avenue in the former Golden Bear Physical Therapy locating behind Valley Oak Dental.


To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecasbulletin.com