Quasi-legal Medical Marijuana Has Become a Dangerous Charade
By Bob Morris | 06/21/2012 | Activism, California, Drugs, Issues | 48 Comments
Credit: commons.wikimedia.org
Medical marijuana in California was instituted with the best of intentions by the passage of Proposition 215 in 1996. It mandated that marijuana could be grown and cultivated legally for personal use by those with a recommendation from a doctor and their caregivers. Marijuana unquestionably can relieve nausea from those undergoing chemotherapy and help with a host of other symptoms as well. But what began as a genuine effort to help the suffering has metastasized into something quite different with potentially nasty and dangerous consequences.
Metroactive, a weekly semi-alt newspaper in San Jose, recently ran a story about Cannabis Clubbing. They detailed several clubs they saw as better than the multitude of other medical marijuana clinics in the area. One club has a vaporizer and comfy chairs for regulars to chill in. Another clinic features marijuana with a whopping 86% THC content for “ultraconcentrated relief.” One hotspot stays open until 10 PM and has a crush of customers in the final few minutes, which seems suspiciously like the crowd at a liquor store before it closes. Pardon my skepticism, but I’m just not seeing the medical value here. Marijuana ads filled the pages around the Metroactive article. Maybe my glasses need cleaning, but I didn’t see ads that focused on medical benefits.
This is not meant as a criticism of Metroactive. They are reporting the news in an area where marijuana is de facto legal and the ads are completely legal. But, and this is the crucial point, marijuana is not legal. It is quasi-legal. Scofflaws find pliant doctors to give them a recommendation. People walk the street smoking marijuana. Laws are gently ignored or routed around.
Why it’s just like Prohibition was in the 1920’s, isn’t it? Friendly little Mom and Pop marijuana clinics invite you in now just like speakeasies did in the days of illegal booze. What could be wrong with that?
Behind those speakeasies in Prohibition were nasty people with guns. Bootleggers routinely killed each other. Cops were bribed. The entire system was corrupted. If something is illegal or quasi-legal and there is serious money to be made, criminals and organized crime will move in.
The LA Times reports that marijuana clinics do indeed make large profits and that sometimes the people behind them are less than upright citizens. In one series of raids, $700,000 was recovered along with an AK and other weapons. The silent partner in six clinics was a convicted drug dealer.
a) Why is a convicted drug dealer allowed to have ownership in medical marijuana stores?
b) What do AKs and large amounts of cash have to do with being “compassionate caregivers”?
If there’s money to be made and laws are murky, crime and corruption will follow. That’s not healthy. Instead, marijuana should be legalized and taxed heavily.
What do you think about the quasi-legal status of marijuana?
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48 Comments
Chris in WI
06.21.2012
This is just bad info. It’s a plant who’s flower WILL get you high but CANNOT kill a human. Perspective!!! Just because it IS illegal doesn’t mean it SHOULD be illegal!
Bob Morris
06.21.2012
@Bob_Morris
As I mentioned in the article, I think marijuana should be completely legal.
Michael Dishmon
06.21.2012
@bizurk
A California legal AK47?
Bob Morris
06.21.2012
@Bob_Morris
The article said is was a Chinese version of an AK. Didn’t mention if it was full auto or not, nor did it say why the clinics and homes were raided.
It just occurred to me that medical marijuana clinics do a big cash business and thus could be ideal places to launder money. This is true for any business with lots of cash transactions.
jimstamm
06.21.2012
@jimstamm
Marijuana prohibition was scam from day one. Pot prohibition is nothing at all like the alcohol prohibition. The people voted to make it legal and rather then facilitating the will of the people like they are legally obligated to do politicians ignore the will of the people and look for weaselly ways to circumvent it. Pot prohibition was done largely for corrupt monopolistic business purposes by Andrew Mellon, Harry Anslinger, the Duponts, the Rockafellers & fossil fuel industry, W. R. Hearst & the paper pulp industry, the cotton industry and the automotive industry. Henry Ford was poised to introduce a new car made largely from hemp and fueled n lubed by hemp. They obtained their goal of prohibition by blatant pandering to extreme racism. How sleazy is that and who in their right mind would support it? Prohibition is one of the more significant causes of our out of control economy. Prohibitionists have scammed our government into spending trillions of dollars on pot prohibition in the last 75 yrs & run up a huge national debt. Prohibition creates a climate conducive to criminality. In South America tens of thousands of people have died because of greedy drug cartels all fighting for the insane profits from green vegetable matter that costs about as much as corn to produce. The whole kit and kaboodle sucks and is tearing our nation apart. It is also worthy to note pot was used by most of our founding fathers and hemp was an integral part of our society until 1937 when the scam started. Pot has been used as medicine in every major culture dating back to the beginning of recorded history and for some time before that. Pot was listed in the US Pharmacopiea from 1850 until 1942. The AMA was opposed to prohibition & it took Anslinger 5 years to convince them to remove it. More people die from aspirin or tylenol use then pot use. there has never been a recorded death from cannabis overdose. I have been hit twice by cars as a pedestrian once in 1970 and again in 1999. Medical marijuana has been a huge help to me and has greatly improved the quality of my life. People who say pot is not medicine are being ignorant of history and science, It is high time we ended this harmful and unpopular scam and re-legalized pot.totally.
jimstamm
06.21.2012
@jimstamm
It is actually prohibition which is the more dangerous charade
Amos Cooper
06.21.2012
@adcooper12
It does seem like the only way to solve this problem is by ending prohibition on marijuana. You can make something illegal but you can’t kill demand which is a huge reason behind the violence surrounding marijuana distribution.
Justin Paulsen
06.21.2012
It should be legal, and taxed.
Sam Gomez
06.21.2012
Its not any more dangerous than the black market environment that existed before. Marijuana is not dangerous. Prohibition is dangerous. It provides a financial incentive for dangerous people to become involved in a business that would otherwise be populated by farmers and peaceful stoners/growers.
Bob Morris
06.21.2012
@Bob_Morris
Just think, after Prohibition ended some of those involved used the money to build casinos in Vegas and the son of another bootlegger become president!
Joy Archa
06.21.2012
its not any more dangerous then the presidents obamacare and everything else hes done so far—
Judith Humbert
06.21.2012
They need to take booze off the market. That harms more then pot
Jason Whittington
06.21.2012
I think our politicians need to explain why they think they’re smarter than the One who created this plant, with all its properties and the link between us – the cannabinoids of the cannabis plant and our cannabinoid receptors.
Tracy Emde
06.21.2012
I agree with Justin. How can the government allow alcohol and tobacco to be legal (and taxed) and not marijuana? Cigarette-caused cancer and drunk driver deaths and liver disease in alcoholics are facts. The ‘dangers’ of marijuana have not been proven, and its positive medical uses are trivialized. Legalize all or none.
Bristol Bailey
06.21.2012
Legalize Now !!!
Kimberly Hopper
06.21.2012
Tax it, just like tobacco.
Nanson Hwa
06.21.2012
“Medical marijuana is quasi-legal and produces big profits, something which invites criminals and organized crime.” Independent Voter. Organized crime is currently participating in the production,transportation, distribution, sales of marijuana and reaping profits without paying any taxes. So what’s the beef? The legalization of medical marijuana use will cut into the profits of organized crime and raise needed tax revenue. Patients suffering from cancer, AIDS, eating disorders, nausea, pain and physical disabilities find relief from ingesting or smoking marijuana. Medical production and use of marijuana should be classified as a controlled substance like any other drug but the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industry do not want to compete with a natural substance that have medicinal uses. It appears what voters don’t want is the outright sale of marijuana for recreational use for pot heads.
Jimmy Rose
06.21.2012
I think they will never stop tossing people in jail for it. sad to say
Bj Willis
06.21.2012
@ Joy Archa….im not even a huge obama supporter but i love to hear dimwits talk abt EVERYTHING he’s done but can never elaborate on the subject…tell what has this president done differently than the ones before him?
Shaun Lindsey
06.21.2012
Grow it Pick it smoke it…you don’t brew it, or process it, or break it down….it is about as natural and easy as you can get, and in this age of the not-so-smooth transition from manufacturing/agricultural/labor jobs to those in the information industry, this could be just the new industry we need to pump some life into the economy…..New jobs=new taxpayers, new product=new tax appropriations, and new consumers.
Rick Costolo
06.21.2012
It’s “quasi-legal” status doesn’t invite any more criminals or organized crime than it’s “completely-illegal” status. In fact – the more legal it becomes the less criminals can get involved. The prohibition of anything CREATES a black market, a black market creates a playground with no rules – which often means the biggest bully with the biggest stick wins. That means gangs and guns.
Legalize/decriminalize now to stop the crime, homocides, and the “war on drugs” money pit.
Cindy Urban Pickering
06.21.2012
What I’d like to know is why the Justice Department is going after dispensaries in states where the majority voted to decriminalize it? And why only in San Diego and San Francisco/Oakland, while San Jose has a dispensary on every corner? I know what medicinal marijuana can do–the marijuana for pain control does not have a ‘high’. The pain just goes away. I have many medical reasons to smoke, or eat, medicinal marijuana, and it is the only thing in six long years of pain-to the point of nausea–that has helped. I have endured 5 surgeries in those 6 years, and countless hours of Physical Therapy,. I have taken every drug there is for pain, and most of them don’t work, and they all have side effects that are sometimes worse than what you had to begin with. I had not slept for more than 2-3 hours a night for 5 years when I first started trying this–now I sleep 5-6 hours, which is huge! And I do not smoke daily or even regularly, because I cannot afford to, but the changes since I started are truly remarkable. People talk about being sleep-deprived when they have a baby, for the first few months–try 5 years!! You just fall further and further apart when you can never get into a real state of sleep, so for that alone it is remarkable. But there are thousands of people like me, all with stories of remarkable effects, who could live much more productive lives with its help. There are always those that abuse any situation, but that isn’t enough of a reason to deprive all those who could benefit from it. Look into the ‘facts’ and you will find that it is much different than portrayed by the media.
Stephanie Kiel
06.21.2012
My husband and I run a “Mom and Pop” Medical Marijuana Delivery Service in California. The only gun we own is a pellet gun my husband has from his childhood. Despite the fact that our gross sales for last year were around 2 million dollars, we are still home renters, as we have struggled financailly for the three years we have been in business to just get out of debt. As no bank will offer an MMJ business a loan, our start up came from a loan of my personal credit. No matter what the sales total, we receive a standard salary which is actually DECREASED in times of need. No piles of money here.
My husband does have a past which would surely be misconstrued and taken out of context to the ends of somone seeking to prosecute us for our choice to start up the Collective. However, I think it should be noted that if a person is in trouble in their younger years, then enters the MMJ industry and settles down to raise a family and run a business that thrives on helping people, perhaps this is a good thing. To go from being an “offender” to a positive productive part of it is something that should be desireable.
I agree that many in the industry do not take the Medical in Medical Marijuana very seriously. We take it very seriously in practice, but in theory I am not sure that it is really a problem. This is a prohibition, and like the prohibition of alcohol it is a futile attempt at banning something that people have a right to. If anything, the prohibition of alcohol made more sense. After all, no one has ever died from an overdose of Cannabis. Does prohibition lead to the creation of a shady underground profiteering? Of course it does, but having the Medical option allows those of us who believe in the benefit of plant to push forward until the prohibition ends. When that happens, Marijuana production will not bear the same risk and reward that draws that type of person to use it for a black market end.
And I wonder, why is it of such concern for a person to enjoy the process of obtaining and using their medicine? If the medicine is associated with positive rather than negative side effects doesn’t that make sense? Is it somehow better for a person with an ailment to dislike going to the place where they must obtain the prescribed remedy and then sit at home alone suffering the unintended and undesireable side effects of a pharmaceutical? Are pharmacies doing a service by maintaining a uncomfortable flourescent lit location that makes people uncomfortable?
Until the prohibition is ended, those of us out here trying to make the medicine available to people in a safe, (“quasi”) legal way would love for all the gun toting black market Our entire business model revolves puching prices down – by cultivation ourselves – in the hope that some day the process of cultivation cannabis will be more akin to that of a high end vegetable rather than an illegal drug. We would rather see it become affordalbe for those who need it, and have an honest living providing it.
I developed a Compassionate Discount program for our Members who have the most severe medical or financial needs, offering them additional discounts and even free medication. I do this on a case to case basis, and even send a driver out to give someone in severe pain who has used up their meger SSI check for the month help at no charge – and still pay the driver to do so.
Painting the enire industry with such a broad brush and pushing sensationalist headlines will not lead to the end of the prohibition or the end the crime and curruption. It will lead to the continuing persucution of people like us.
Bob Morris
06.21.2012
@Bob_Morris
Thank you for the detailed reply. I’m not suggesting that people like you are criminals but it does seem apparent the criminals are moving into medical marijuana. Which is all the more reason to legalize marijuana completely
Janet Lynn
06.21.2012
Don;t we have more important issues????????????
Kevin Moore
06.21.2012
OMG, they found a gun, an AK and other weapons!!! You can find such weapons among any US household these days… but these guys were growing marijuana!!!!! WHOOOOOOAAAA they must be criminals of the highest order!!
You mean there was a convicted criminal who was a partner in the business, OH EM GEEEEE must mean they were all doing something wrong!!!
Bob Morris
06.21.2012
@Bob_Morris
He was apparently a convicted felon. They aren’t allowed to own guns, vote, and being something like a lawyer or real estate agent can even be dicey.
Kevin Moore
06.21.2012
never realized that people who goto jail are not allowed to own legitimate businesses…
Barry Short
06.21.2012
It should be legal, it shouldn’t be taxed, and other taxes should be decreased due to the savings from not enforcing anti-marijuana laws.
Bob Morris
06.21.2012
@Bob_Morris
I think all drugs should be legal, Portugal decriminalize personal use of all drugs 10 years ago and their per capita consumption has dropped compared to the rest of Europe.
Louie Goitz
06.21.2012
It seems a lot safer than the legal drugs I see advertised everyday on tv.
Jimmy Rose
06.21.2012
If they bust you for a joint your life as you know it is over they have gone crazy over the last 40 years. The thing that makes me so angry at this is nobody ask me if I thought it was a good idea to destroy my kids life for nothing.
Doug Penny
06.21.2012
All this hoo-ha about a load of crime promoting crap. A good indication of the idiocy of our electorate that vote crappy governments in. Get a life America. Wake out of your fairytale life and work toward a future or lay back in a drug induced coma wallowing in trash and get nowhere. What a washed out, confused bunch of loafers.
Ian Penny
06.21.2012
One shouldn’t have to alter their state of mind to feel that’s how life should be lived. Been “natures” chemically dependent is so lame. Get a life.
Chad Peace
06.21.2012
Why such vengeful comments? Isn’t the point of “Independent Voter” to listen to the other side and have a civil conversation? I see a lot of commenters here proclaiming how stupid the people on the other side of the aisle are unconditioned on their rationale. Could there be good people who are also not stupid on the different sides of the marijuana debate?
Jimmy Rose
06.21.2012
Well why don’t you pay for all this mess and give us our money back then we will shut up.
Gable Bates
06.21.2012
Speaking from local experience in CA, many people support medical marijuana for its intended purpose. Unfortunately, there are so many ideological activists involved that local doctors hand out prescriptions to whomever wants one, stoned teenagers running amok are a common sight near dispensaries and in restaurants, nearly-empty containers are found on sidewalks near parks, etc. The electorate has compassion, but ideologues use that to effect a slippery slope. I can understand the impatience of city governments when local marijuana use isn’t about medical use at all. I think all sides need to be a lot more honest about the drug and themselves.
Jimmy Rose
06.21.2012
I have been to college a vet. going back to school for my third time and I do not won’t to pay for any more crusades that other people get on a kick for. War on anything unless attact is at any second.
Aaron Mathis
06.22.2012
Wow…
“If there’s money to be made and laws are murky, crime and corruption will follow. That’s not healthy. Instead, marijuana should be legalized and taxed heavily.”
Government is the biggest cause of corruption – how would putting it into their hands (assuming they already haven’t had a hand in the illegal trade already) be any better?
Higher taxes? FY 2011 0.21 of every dollar was allocated to the dept of defense – not including domestic agencies – Instead of hindering a boom industry in the form of hemp products and marijuana, how about making some cuts from the Federal government instead of increasing its’ coffers.
If I had a large supply of marijuana I would have weapons as well – Why? Prohibition put marijuana in the hands of criminals – criminals who would gladly try and rob me.
I think you are blinded by the notion that because someone is called a ‘criminal’ by the state – they must actually be a danger to society…
Bob Morris
06.22.2012
@Bob_Morris
I could care less if someone walks down the streets of San Jose smoking weed, as often happens. But several levels up in drug distribution are nasty people with guns and above them are the cartels.
That’s why I think all drugs should be legalized. To stop the cartels and the corruption.
And the corruption is staggering. From the Guardian in Dec. 2009. (I don’t think the comments here accept links, but google the headline and you’ll find it.)
.
“Drug money saved banks in global crisis, claims UN advisor
Drugs and crime chief says $352bn in criminal proceeds was effectively laundered by financial institutions”
mf
06.26.2012
@mf
CORRECT! take the fat profits out and the motive for crime is GONE.
Matthew J. Cote
06.22.2012
Cannabis needs to be legalized in order to reduce the inflated value of it. It’s unconstitutional, dangerous, and a detriment to the safety of citizens. People want it, let them have it.
Faith Eischen
06.25.2012
@faitheischen
tax it! help fix California’s state deficit!!
Joseph Forester Warren
06.27.2012
@forestw785
I don’t know about taxed heavily. Any taxes, if any, should (in my opinion) be local city or county taxes. Not even state, honestly. That way those cities or counties get the money from what their citizens use. They should also decide the rate.
adsl
07.04.2012
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Did you develop this web site yourself? Please reply back as
I’m planning to create my own website and would love to learn where you got this from or exactly what the theme is named. Kudos!
Regel Javines
07.07.2012
Marijuana, like any other controlled substances, can not and should not be legalized ever. All drugs have medical benefits, yet they can also be worst when users become addicted to it. Since marijuana has that characteristic and is likely endanger users and other innocent, this should be controlled forever.
For more of my write-ups and opinions, visit Philippine Review at http://rqjavines.wordpress.com
or at this link: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/12452931-no-time-is-high-time-to-legalize-marijuana
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/12475183-legalizing-marijuana-is-losing-america
The visitor
07.11.2012
The government has the monopoly on soft drugs and does not want competition (Private citizens) to share in the money. (That’s how it looks today.)
longtemps
04.09.2013
I drop a leave a response whenever I especially enjoy a post on a site or I have something
to add to the conversation. Usually it’s triggered by the passion displayed in the post I browsed. And after this article Quasi-legal Medical Marijuana Has Become a Dangerous Charade. I was excited enough to post a leave a responsea response ;-) I do have a couple of questions for you if it’s allright.
Could it be only me or does it seem like some of the comments look
like left by brain dead visitors? :-P And, if you are posting
on other online sites, I’d like to keep up with anything new you have to post. Could you list the complete urls of all your social sites like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?