Oaksterdam

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oaksterdam is a cultural district on the north end of Downtown Oakland, California where medical cannabis is readily, and legally, available for purchase in a variety of preparations, smokeable and edible, in different cafes, clubs, and patient dispensaries. According to Proposition 215, a statewide voter initiative which amended the California Health and Safety Code, marijuana used for medical purposes is legal to buy. Dispensaries usually require a doctor's note in order to obtain medical cannabis, which is legal under California Law but illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act.

Contents

[edit] History

The name Oaksterdam is a portmanteau of Oakland and Amsterdam, the Dutch city that is famously tolerant towards drug use. The term was coined by Jim McClelland, after prompting by Andrew Glazier. This was witnessed by Jeff Jones. Jim was an AIDS patient who was a founding member of the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Club and the Berkeley Patients Group. He died in 2001.

[edit] Location and Character

Oaksterdam is located on the north end of Downtown Oakland, between downtown proper, the Lakeside and the Financial District. It is roughly bordered by 14th street on the Southwest, Harrison Street on the Southeast, 19th Street on the Northeast, and Telegraph Ave on the Northwest. It is characterized by mixed use office and residential buildings with unique historic architecture that is older than some of the more modern skyscrapers south of 14th Street, and an abundance of ground floor retail shop spaces, restaurants and cafes.

A Julia Morgan designed building is located at the Northwest corner of 15th and Webster, which was the original location of the Oakland YWCA. The neighborhood also features the Cathedral Building, an ornate, historic Flatiron Building building at Latham Square at the intersection of Broadway and Telegraph.

[edit] Educational Institutions

The district features at least two institutions of higher learning, Lincoln University at 15th and Franklin, a small business school catering mainly to international students, and Oaksterdam University on 15th Street, a business college which prepares students for medical cannabis work. [1] [2]

[edit] Transportation Infastructure

[edit] Mass Transit

The 19th Street BART metrorail station is located beneath Oaksterdam on Broadway between 17th and 20th Streets. The station has entrances on Broadway and on an alleyway that opens onto Telegraph Avenue. AC Transit also recently opened the Uptown regional transit center nearby on Thomas L. Berkeley Way (20th Street), which features multiple bus shelters with seating, NextBus arrival prediction signs and Rapid Bus service.

[edit] Bicycle Rental

Oaksterdam University is planning an upcoming bicycle rental service from its 15th Street campus.

[edit] Neighborhood Retail

The district is home to a number of coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, and open into the evenings, a gift shop, two musical instrument stores and specialty stores which contribute to the vibrancy of the neighborhood. These shops and services also are attractive to cannabis tourists and enjoy a superior central location next to the 19th Street BART station and AC Transit connections.

[edit] See also

[edit] Adjacent Oakland Neighborhoods and Attractions

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ News Segment. KTVU Television, Oakland, California (January, 2007).
  2. ^ Lisa Leff (26 February, 2008). [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jYHN4gdAHV9I6D8_eoKW7hbrxMFgD8V1H8L00 Higher education: Oakland class teaches pot growing Weekend trade school course teaching students to grow, cook pot booked through May]. The Associated Press; Oakland Tribune.