Pubdate: Sun, 22 Jul 2007
Source: Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA)
Copyright: 2007 The Press-Enterprise Company
Contact:  http://www.pe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/830
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n868/a04.html?69828
Author: Bruce Mirken

DEA CAN'T STOP POT USE

The Drug Enforcement Administration may succeed in shutting down most 
of Southern California's medical marijuana dispensaries if it chooses 
to make this a priority ("Feds digging deep in pot-dispensary blitz," 
July 19). So it's reasonable to ask, what if it succeeds?

Likely, two things will occur: First, some patients will lose access 
to medical marijuana. This will particularly affect the most infirm 
and severely disabled, who are unable to grow their own medicine, as 
well as those who live in public housing or other situations where 
growing is impossible. The severely disabled are likely to be least 
able to seek out street sources.

But many, probably most, will simply turn to street dealers, with all 
the danger that implies.

The medical marijuana market won't go away; it will just be 
transferred from businesses that attempt to operate legally and are 
subject to local regulation to the unregulated criminal underground.

How anyone can think this is good for either the sick or their 
communities is beyond me.

BRUCE MIRKEN

Director of communications

Marijuana Policy Project

San Francisco
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom