Los Angeles medical marijuana patients have lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season, at least for now. Gratitude first is owed to the California voters, for passing in l996 Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, which legalized possession and use of marijuana for seriously ill Californians with a doctor's recommendation even though marijuana possession and cultivation is illegal under federal law. Blessings multiplied with the 2004 passage of Senate Bill 420, that codified the laws allowing patients to cooperatively cultivate marijuana as medicine on a non-profit basis. Within the City of Los Angeles, 186 marijuana dispensaries had registered with the city and were in operation by 2007.
That fact leads to the next reason for patients be grateful: medical marijuana dispensaries are now as ubiquitous in the city as the CVS pharmacy chain, making is just as convenenient for Angelenos to pick up medical marijuana in their neighborhoods as it is for them to pick up their condoms, shampoo and
birth control pills at the pharmacy down the street. City officials estimate there are at least 800 dispensaries operating in the City. For this convenience, patients can partially thank Superior Court Judge James Chalfant, who ruled last October in a case involving the dispensary Westside Green Oasis, that the city's moratorium against additional dispensaries opening pending adoption of a permanent ordinance was illegal. This ruling allowed at least 500 dispensaries that had opened under a "hardship exemption" loophole in the moratorium to remain open pending resolution of their cases.
Don't forget the plethora of doctors that make it easy to obtain the recommendation necessary by law
to cultivate, possess and ingest the marijuana. Often advertising their services in local alternate
newspapers, for just $100 to $200 many doctors that have never treated a particular person will nonetheless issue their written recommendation that their "patient" would benefit from medicinal marijuana. Yet more for the bud beneficiaries to give thanks for.
Next, patients can be thankful that there are so many ways for them to consume their medication. There is smoking, of course, but for those who don't want the harmful ingredients that come in the smoke along with the helpful ones, there is vaporizing. And for those who do not want to vaporize, there are edibles- everything from cookies to fudge to lollipops. For those who do not want the inconsistency of dosage often found with edibles, there are tinctures.
All that gratitude may be short lived, as access to medical marijuana is about to be severely curtailed.
The Los Angeles City Council is on the verge of enacting an ordinance that could limit the number of dispensaries in the city to as few as 70. District Attorney Steve Cooley, has promised to prosecute dispensaries that accept cash for the drug, regardless of the type of ordinance that is ultimately passed,and the dispensary operators have promised to file yet another lawsuit against the city.
So, yes, California medical marijuana patients -- be grateful today, for tomorrow could be another story
all together.
Comments
Hater???
id say so...
well said!
Cooley's own interpretation of the law is exactly that an interpretation. The reason why there are so many dispensaries in Los Angeles is because they are meeting the demands of the patients. City of Los Angeles residents support medical marijuana, over 75%, city council supports medical marijuana. Steve cooley is out of step and out of line. He should be recalled.
and....in Michigan more than 2,400 people have applied now to legally deal marijuana to recreational consumers in that State.
Why? Because dealing high-grade pot can net you $6,000.00 a pound in profits that are sucked right out of a dying persons wallet.
Let us look at examples of other legal stores in Michigan;
Starbucks coffee shops- 106
McDonalds- 296
CVS- 7,000 IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY
WalGreens- 7,000 IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY
WalMart- 2,700 IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY
Can we safely assume the issue is about dealing illegal drugs and the profit possible BECAUSE OF PROHIBITION?
No one would be interested in selling pot if it was legal and supplied like say Sugar at .2221 cents a pound. I guarantee you will find all 2,400 "caregivers" in Michigan breaking the law to get money and well that is CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
and....in Michigan more than 2,400 people have applied now to legally deal marijuana to recreational consumers in that State.
Why? Because dealing high-grade pot can net you $6,000.00 a pound in profits that are sucked right out of a dying persons wallet.
Let us look at examples of other legal stores in Michigan;
Starbucks coffee shops- 106
McDonalds- 296
CVS- 7,000 IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY
WalGreens- 7,000 IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY
WalMart- 2,700 IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY
Can we safely assume the issue is about dealing illegal drugs and the profit possible BECAUSE OF PROHIBITION?
No one would be interested in selling pot if it was legal and supplied like say Sugar at .2221 cents a pound. I guarantee you will find all 2,400 "caregivers" in Michigan breaking the law to get money and well that is CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
The marijuana discussion is not just about medicine. It's time to drive a wedge between the criminal drug dealers and our kids. Licensing, taxing, and regulating marijuana will put the drug dealers out of business and protect our children. Regulate the marijuana business, medical or otherwise. While we’re at it, let’s implement a personal cultivation permit. Limit the number of plants, and put a fee on it, something like a fishing license, with maybe a little extra for education or fixing the roads.
How about $100 per year for a permit to cultivate a dozen plants for personal use or to give away the product? It's a win-win.
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