Where are they supposed to get it?

by Adolfo Salazar Sunday, Jun. 17, 2007 at 9:19 AM
goldenstatecollective@gmail.com 8186200718 14667 tupper st,panorama city,ca,91402

A account of the situation created when voters speak and the state doesn't listen. Legal residents are being treated like criminals for following state law. I own and operate a Medical Marijuana Collective so this is my frustration turned to words.

Where are they suppo...
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When prop 215 passed the state's population accepted the need for medicinal marijuana to be available to patients, an entire group of people suddenly had a legal right to grow and possess this medicine.

No safe regulated access was put into the equation beyond ones own ability to cultivate. Coming from an agricultural background that might be a possibility to me but for the common citizen it's an impossibility.

The sick and dying, which qualify for this medicine, are some of the most disadvantaged people this state has, forcing them to become indoor horticulturists over night does not seem to be a legitimate answer. Senate Bill 420 allows prop.215-qualified patients to work together cooperatively to cultivate marijuana for medical purposes. Access to these close circle operations is hard to find given the risk of federal prosecution. The only legitimate solution is the establishment of regulations and ordinances allowing locations in retail centers to distribute the medicine to patients.

We agree they have a right to obtain this medicine, one important question remains. Where are these people going to acquire this medicine? You as a citizen would agree that turning this new need into a new market for street drug dealers and forcing people that are sick and following the advice of licensed doctors to seek out criminal enterprise is not a legitimate solution.

18.5 Billion of the money that goes through California is from Marijuana. 18.5 Billion dollars is going untaxed, is not regulated and is ruining our economy on a consistent basis. We must protect the money of this state by creating sound regulations that not only protect the patients but protects the operators of collectives offering these services. Surely we as Americans would not stand for taxation without representation at this point in time. The concept of "virtual representation" is a colonial era doctrine and is reminiscent of the situation at hand. Only this time the central government knows exactly what the people of this state want, we voted on it.

Medical Marijuana Collectives have nothing to do with street drug enterprises. Medicine is provided by patients straight to the collective and is dispensed right back to other patients. This allows the citizens of this state to know there donations will go to honest , hardworking , sick and for the most part disabled citizens of this state. Would you prefer the patients to turn to your Neighborhood Park, low-income neighborhood's and city streets? Surely you would want the person providing the medicine to be fully taxed and regulated and register business permits with the city correct?

There is a legal underworld that is conducting business in this city. Permits are issued and good-hearted attempts are made to run with full compliance with regulations issued by the city. We protest for regulations. We protest to be in full communication with law enforcement. We want to protect the integrity and safety of the sick and dying by fully regulating and enforcing safe access to legal medicine.

Places offering these services are being robbed at night and when they call LAPD to report the robbery of LEGAL medicine it turns into a narcotics investigation and then a full on raid. Funny when we all filed for permits and all said we were going to be providing medical marijuana, they smiled and collected payment. Help protect the rights of your fellow citizens with a phone call to your local councilman. The more they treat this legal industry illegally the people will be at risk.