Medical marijuana bill to be introduced today

"Medical marijuana bill to be introduced today," Brown Daily Herald, Feb. 10, 2009

"Though medical marijuana is currently legal in 13 states, none had state-run distribution centers like those proposed under the bill until New Mexico passed a law last year, Stout added.

The bill, which now has 50 co-sponsors in the House, also enjoys popular support. A 2008 poll paid for by the Marijuana Policy Project found that 69 percent of Rhode Islanders favored allowing registered patients to obtain marijuana from state-licensed, state-regulated facilities."

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This bill addresses problems that arise from what amounts to medical marijuana decriminalization. While MMJ laws allow for people to use and grow for themselves, patients that can not or will not grow for themselves are left out in the cold. A cold and gray area of the law when it comes to where they get their medicine. Anyone buying in states where the waters are muddy is really breaking the law to obtain a medicine they are allowed to use. Sellers in these states and even some donating to the less fortunate are clearly on the wrong side of the law. This has to change.

There are people that want to open up these markets but out of date laws do not allow for commercial cultivation of medical marijuana in most areas.

These issues need to be addresses by legislators. People will always try to make a profit with marijuana, even if its illegal. I think even the DEA will tell you that will never change. Trying to keep prohibition up on medical suppliers is pointless.

There are a lot of people that are passionate about growing marijuana, who would otherwise be law abiding citizens, just itching to fill this niche. Legislators need to allow for dispensaries and the local growers to supply them. Jobs would be created, cash injected into local economies, tax revenue generated and patients would have safe legal options to access the medicines they need.

Opponents offer up fears reminiscent of those raised before gambling was legalized in New Jersey. There is no reason to think that the medical marijuana industry would pose more problems than regulating casino gaming did in the '70s. New Jersey is the latest state to consider a medical marijuana bill and the bill does address growing for others but in it's current form it will fall short of filling the needs of many sick and suffering patients. Sources close to the bill have told me it looks like dispensaries are not on the agenda and for profit transfer would still be against the law. The state of New Jersey did an outstanding job seeing to it organized crime did not end up running casinos and I can tell you from a few personal experiences they are one of the smoothest government agencies you could ever deal with. They know what they're doing. They have the ability to oversee a project like this and there are no reasons to assume that legitimate businesses would risk their license by supplying unlicensed patients. The state also stands to lose sorely need revenue making this a win, win, win situation is they approach it from the right angle.

The price of MMJ has dropped by as much as 50% in some areas of California since prop 215 passed. Lower prices give less incentive for cartels and the people willing to risk todays legal penalties to traffic in cannabis. They have easier ways to make money. New Jersey's bill already precludes convicted drug felons from getting licensed. The systems are already in place for licensing and background checks and could easily be made available for use here. State jobs would be created and it could be incorporated into the Casino Control Commission to save on duplicate costs. It's time to make a change.

Compassion clubs across the globe will always be committed to helping patients who can't afford medicine by making sure these people receive what they need. Some of the support comes from the efforts of commercial growers and breeders themselves. They need a way to legally operate and generate profits, some of which they give back helping others. Marijuana can be a very social drug and tokers know how to share.

If we don't leave room for legitimate business to profit from medical cannabis then only criminals are left to profit.

By TwistMasterDeluxe