Pubdate: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 Source: Union, The (Grass Valley, CA) Copyright: 2009 The Union Contact: http://apps.theunion.com/utils/forms/lettertoeditor/ Website: http://www.theunion.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/957 Author: Jedediah Biagi Note: Jedediah Biagi lives in Grass Valley. MEDI-POT DISPENSARY COULD HELP HUNDREDS Supervisor John Spencer is closest to accurate in what a medical marijuana dispensary is, and after one simple logical conclusion, he should explain it to Supervisor Nate Beason. Beason somehow makes this illogical leap: If the county counsels people with drug abuse problems, then we shouldn't sell any drugs in the county. Look out Rite Aid. So, John Spencer, why don't pharmacies carry medical marijuana? To qualify under state law, and remain immune to federal prosecution, the dispensary must operate as a nonprofit. You won't see Rite Aid moving to nonprofit status anytime soon. Simply stated, a medical marijuana dispensary is a pharmacy -- one that focuses on the filling of prescriptions for one drug. Other than that, the same safeguards employed to secure Rite Aid and their customers would be employed to secure the dispensary, its customers and the community. Specifically, a dispensary would have locks on doors, video cameras, alarms, security guards, a separation of product from the patients, and verification of referral legitimacy (ensuring the prescription is valid). Pharmacies won't be filling this void anytime soon, and this a void that is long overdue in its need to be addressed. Moratoriums, the current rage, only continue to keep the legitimate and responsible aspects of medical marijuana grouped with the illegal activities that have law enforcement officers' panties all in a bind. The separation of legitimate medical marijuana through the employment of dispensaries will be the first step in protecting patients and the community by making a clear distinction from underground sales. A clear separation of "legal" and "illegal" will only make law enforcement officers' jobs easier in assessing who the criminal is and limit the harassment of responsible patients. Dispensaries have been defined, given guidelines, and deemed valid by the state, so that's not the issue. Guidelines can be added to the definition to suit locality, and that's the point we're at. A local dispensary supplying and supplied by local patients is needed and will help hundreds, if not thousands, of patients in this county. (I was at the town hall meeting Cliff Newell had to address new growing "guidelines," and it was standing-room only. Easily a couple of hundred people were at that event alone). All of these patients' safety shouldn't be ignored and forced to the black market. Kudos to Mr. O'Dell for attending the Board of Supervisors meeting and being the lone representative for the patient's side, but this is not going to be enough. Medical marijuana patients need to come together like at the town hall meeting when Cliff Newell attacked patients' growing rights. A simple e-mail to your supervisor or all the supervisors would give them a better idea of the number of people who could benefit from a dispensary. Of course, showing up at the supervisors meetings and voicing your concerns would be the most productive, but at the very least, send an e-mail. Each of the supervisors has an e-mail address, just go to mynevadacounty.com and click on the "Board of Supervisors" link and send one to your supervisor. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake