medical marijuana

[loftguy]

Earlier today I overheard two businessmen arguing about whether Missouri or Kansas would be the first to legalize medical marijuana dispensaries.  They made interesting arguments, but I found it interesting that both seemed to see it as inevitable in both states.
I would be curious to hear the thoughts of forumers.

BTW, last week I was in a number of towns in Colorado, large and small.  There are now MMD's everywhere!  There were places that looked as soulless as a strip mall check casher.  There were slick and contemporary places that were similar to Sharper Image.  We saw cute little shops set up in Victorian painted ladies that looked like Cape Cod gift shops and there were Rastaman Rainbow '60s headshop looking places.  It's amazing how these places have sprung up in the past year.  I saw in the Westword (their Pitch) that in addition to selling buds in 1/8th ounce lots, they also sell muffins, brownies, main-course meals, even bottled pop....all made with pot!

In Denver we stayed in the Oxford Hotel, a victorian boutique in LoDo.  We were sitting on a bench in front of the hotel talking with the valet/doorman about the $250 fine that is now imposed on anyone who smokes tobacco products in their room.  He told us that we would discover that the rule did not apply to pot.  He went on to say that Colorado has become the new Amsterdam and that there are now people coming as marijuana tourists.  Sure enough, when we got off the elevator that night, the halls on our floor reeked of heavy skunk odors that seemed to be coming from nearly every room.  We got a great laugh out of it, we might have gotten the munchies if we had stayed in the halls a while longer.

[LenexatoKCMO]

It will be fascinating to see what happens in CA in November.  I find it an interesting test of political convictions for conservatives who have advocated for "state's rights" forages, who are going to have to deal with the reality that the next ten years are probably going to see the most important phase of state v. federal powers jurisprudence we have seen in at least a half a century and the two fault line issues that stand to win them their long-awaited victory will be items many conservatives absolutely can't tolerate on a personal level - legalized drugs and homosexual marriage.  It makes for a fascinating dichotomy. 

[bbqboy]

We have made the ballot in oregon for November; we don't really have storefronts, just cardholders that allow you to grow so
many plants, or assign those rights to a grower.
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article ... ATE/100715
  A pending ballot initiative allowing the state to license medical-marijuana dispensaries will be the focus of a second citizens' panel that plans a pre-election review and recommendations.
The other topic is a proposed casino east of Portland. It would require voter approval Nov. 2 of two separate initiatives, one to create an exception to the 1984 constitutional ban on casinos, and the other to allow the only casino not affiliated with one of the nine federally recognized tribes cont....

[shinatoo]

It will be fascinating to see what happens in CA in November.  I find it an interesting test of political convictions for conservatives who have advocated for "state's rights" forages, who are going to have to deal with the reality that the next ten years are probably going to see the most important phase of state v. federal powers jurisprudence we have seen in at least a half a century and the two fault line issues that stand to win them their long-awaited victory will be items many conservatives absolutely can't tolerate on a personal level - legalized drugs and homosexual marriage.  It makes for a fascinating dichotomy. 

Some of us conservatives are fine with legalized drugs, probably more than you think. It's the religious right that has most of the issues.

[FangKC]

I'm all for legal medical marijuana dispensed for legitimate illness, pain, and discomfort.

I don't think pot should be illegal for adult use anyway. Its' sale should be regulated like liquor, and people should be allowed to grow their own in small quantities and under certain conditions. For example, you can't allow it to be grown inside cities, because kids will come into your yard and pick it.

However, I think people who live in the country should be able to grow their own as long as it fenced off and locked to prevent minors from getting to it.

[mudjack]

I'm all for legal medical marijuana dispensed for legitimate illness, pain, and discomfort.

I don't think pot should be illegal for adult use anyway. Its' sale should be regulated like liquor, and people should be allowed to grow their own in small quantities and under certain conditions. For example, you can't allow it to be grown inside cities, because kids will come into your yard and pick it.

However, I think people who live in the country should be able to grow their own as long as it fenced off and locked to prevent minors from getting to it.

Can I grow it in the city if I fence around it or if I have a growlight in the basement?

[FangKC]

I don't see any harm in growing it in your basement. The only reason I say anything about not growing it in cities is that it would be very easy for minors to climb over fences to pick it.

[LenexatoKCMO]

I don't see any harm in growing it in your basement. The only reason I say anything about not growing it in cities is that it would be very easy for minors to climb over fences to pick it.

As opposed to picking it where it grows in vacant lots, untended parks, etc.?  Wild growth has always been an aspect that completely undermines prohibition.  It will also undermine the tax regime once it it is ultimately legal. 

[mlind]

Personal experience in Berkeley CA:

My son went to a doctor to get a prescription for medical marijuana because he felt he had PTSD from witnessing a bombing in Israel  Of course, the real reason he went was to just get the dope.  The doctor was later busted for prescribing to anyone who walked in the door.  It was a real cash cow.

My son told me (he doesn't do drugs anymore) that most of the people he saw at the dispensary were just getting it to get high.  There are picnic tables out back where people can sit and smoke. 

I drive by it on my way to work and I've seen what look like frat boys walking to their cars.

I do believe there is a use for medical marijuana but there doesn't seem to be a way to limit it.  So, we should either legalize it for everyone or just continue the ban.  The talk now is that if it's legal, it can be taxed like cigarettes and help the state/city economy.

Many years ago, I used to hear people say that the tobacco industry believed that marijuana would be legalized and they've trademarked brand names.  Of course, at that time, there was a conspiracy nut on every corner.

[taxi]

I drive by it on my way to work and I've seen what look like frat boys walking to their cars.

I Of course, at that time, there was a conspiracy nut on every corner.

Frat boys need love, too. And weed.

Now, there are 2 conspiracy nuts on every corner.

[WSPanic]

I think it's silly to mask it as "medical marijuana" when it's just weed for the sake of weed. Which, I have no problem with. Legalize it. Tax it. Move on.

Why is this so hard?

[bbqboy]

http://www.roguevalleyforum.com/forum/v ... 375#p70352

[mlind]

Marijuana is the largest cash crop in the northern part of California.  I've read that the growers employ illegals to tend/harvest the crops.  Just like 'regular' farmers.

You have to be careful where you go in state & national parks because they are growing it there too.

[bbqboy]

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... WS/8150320

[kboish]

The State Published a map for applications for marijuana dispensaries and what not.

Jackson County leads the state with the following application stats:

Cultivation: 21
Dispensary: 69
Manufacturing: 14

[warwickland]

illinois legalized full recreational use and sale, including the metro east of st. louis. not sure how that will influence missouri, yet.

[chrizow]

illinois legalized full recreational use and sale, including the metro east of st. louis. not sure how that will influence missouri, yet.

When does this go into effect--i.e. when will recreational sales begin there?

[warwickland]

January 1

[scooterj]

illinois legalized full recreational use and sale, including the metro east of st. louis. not sure how that will influence missouri, yet.

Since anything opening in the east suburbs of St. Louis will be making most of their fortune off Missouri residents (I jest, of course, nobody will do that because that would be illegal ) maybe Missouri will see the light (or $$$$) and realize they need to adapt and modernize to stay competitive.

[warwickland]

illinois legalized full recreational use and sale, including the metro east of st. louis. not sure how that will influence missouri, yet.

Since anything opening in the east suburbs of St. Louis will be making most of their fortune off Missouri residents (I jest, of course, nobody will do that because that would be illegal ) maybe Missouri will see the light (or $$$$) and realize they need to adapt and modernize to stay competitive.

maybe...although it's going to be an infusion of tax revenue to metro east counties and municipalities, the fortunes of which historically we have been able to do little about from the missouri side other than buying salted meats on a stick at fast eddies or something. the employment numbers and effects of massive de-industrialization (most of the regions large factories were purposefully built across the river) over there have always tipped us towards rust-belt status as a region, instead of looking more like an indianapolis.