Pubdate: Tue, 24 Jul 2007
Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2007 San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Contact: http://www.sgvtribune.com/writealetter
Website: http://www.sgvtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3725
Author: Dan Abendschein, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MEDICAL POT STORES' PROFITS QUESTIONED

The recent busts of medical marijuana dispensaries have raised 
questions about the revenue the operations collect.

Four dispensaries last week were accused of operating as "super-sized 
retail drug-dealing centers," turning tremendous profits and 
accepting questionable doctor's recommendations.

The dispensaries were investigated by the Drug Enforcement 
Administration, which can charge them with violating federal drug 
laws, regardless of whether or not they make a profit.

However, the agency claims dispensaries it went after last week were 
operating as for-profit operations, which may not be permitted by 
state laws that set guidelines for growing, possessing, and 
distributing medical marijuana.

Two of the busted dispensaries, the "Yellow House" and West Hollywood 
Compassionate Caregivers, are located in Los Angeles. The other two 
are in Corona, in Riverside County, and Morro Bay on the Central Coast.

The DEA, which carried out the investigation, claims that the two 
owners of the "Compassionate Caregivers" chain, which has seven 
dispensaries in California, amassed $95 million in profit, and owned 
luxury cars and real estate in Costa Rica.

The DEA said that based on complaints of young, seemingly healthy 
people buying pot at the busted dispensaries, the operators are "no 
different than any other drug trafficker."

Some in the medical marijuana community spoke out against operators 
that act more like big retail stores than medical collectives.

"Some of these dispensaries have kids with prescriptions from shady 
doctors lining up outside the store," said the man who operates the 
Holistic Co-op in Los Angeles. "That part of the medical marijuana 
community is a joke."

Riley, who preferred not to have his last name in print, said that he 
only helped genuinely sick patients, and always called his patient's 
doctors to verify they were legitimate.

But others rallied to the defense of the dispensaries.

"A business grossing the kind of numbers released by the DEA is not 
making that much money," said Chris Fusco of the Americans for Safe 
Access organization. "Both the federal and state governments need to 
give clear guidelines so there is no confusion for dispensary operators."

Under federal law, the DEA can arrest any dispensary owners for 
selling marijuana. State law, which permits medical marijuana, is unclear.

The 2003 medical marijuana laws do not "authorize any individual or 
group to cultivate or distribute marijuana for profit."

"Though the law is clear that profit is not authorized, it is not 
explicitly declared illegal by state law either," said Bruce 
Margolin, an attorney with the California branch of the National 
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Margolin noted that in a state court case, the People vs. Urziceanu, 
lawyers successfully defended a dispensary where people were asked 
for suggested donations in return for medical marijuana, and asked to 
sign forms saying that the recipient understood the donation was 
meant to "ensure continued operation" of the dispensary and that it 
"in no way constitutes commercial promotion."

However, Margolin added that a similar case, People vs. Mench, where 
the court ruled in favor of the defendant, is now being appealed by 
prosecutors.

The profitability of the medical marijuana business has also come to 
the attention of the Board of Equalization, which administers state taxes.

In February, the board sent out a memo telling dispensaries that any 
commercial transactions would be subject to sales tax, regardless of 
whether the sale was allowed by federal law or not.

"We sent a memo making it clear to dispensaries that they could file 
taxes without telling us what they were selling," Anita Gore, a 
spokesperson at the Board of Equalization.

Gore said that researchers with the organization looked at the number 
of dispensaries and potential sales, and saw that the state was 
missing out on a decent source of revenue.

Chris Fusco says that without more clear state regulation, many 
operators find the best strategy is to run the dispensary as a 
not-for-profit business, or even file for non-profit status.

In either case, says Fusco, a dispensary would set clear staff 
salaries and reinvest any profit back into services for the patients 
of the collective.

One operator of a West San Fernando Valley-based dispensary said that 
he keeps careful books showing he is not running his operation for 
profit, pays taxes, and makes sure his customers are genuine.

"There is always a small group of people who abuse the system or act 
like profiteers, so it is to our benefit when more people use the 
model we use here," said the operator, who preferred not to be 
identified by name.

He said he was part of a group of about 70 dispensaries under a group 
named the Greater Los Angeles Caregiver's Alliance that runs as a nonprofit.

"Our goal is (to) set up a model that is even more stringent than 
state or city regulations would be," said the operator.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom