Pubdate: Sat, 12 Feb 2011
Source: Merced Sun-Star (CA)
Copyright: 2011 Merced Sun-Star
Contact: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/284
Website: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2546
Author: Samuel Matthews
Note: Samuel Matthews is a medical marijuana advocate who lives in Merced.
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries

IF I RAN A POT DISPENSARY ...

I would like to make a pitch to the city of Merced and any sensible 
citizens. Allow medical marijuana dispensaries to open up. I'd like 
to address some valid concerns.

First, put a tight cap on how many dispensaries are allowed to open, 
preventing our area from becoming riddled with them like Los Angeles 
and the Bay Area.

Second, if allowed to open a dispensary, here's the way I would run 
it. First off, I would use a computerized bar code system that would 
allow me to work with law enforcement and when medicine is found in 
the hands of those who cannot legally possess it, like our children 
and nonpatients. We can track the medicine back to the patient who 
resold it, banning them or even handing info needed to prosecute such crimes.

I would have an open-door policy with the city and police, no warrant 
needed you want to drop in and make sure the laws are being followed, 
fine by me.

Also, in order to operate legally a dispensary must operate as a 
nonprofit and I know for a fact that selling 3.5 grams of medicine to 
patients is a rip off and not affordable. Clubs in the Bay Area 
generate sometimes $50,000 a day. They are not working as a nonprofit.

I would promise to have the lowest prices anywhere so patients could 
afford it. For those who's income level are low enough, it should be 
nearly given away.

Properly regulated with respect for the public with security guards, 
cameras and a no-smoking policy.

I'm sure we could come together, make hundreds of thousands of 
dollars in tax revenue, boost the economy, lower marijuana-related 
crime and provide much needed medicine with sick patients.

Also, the nearest dispensaries are north in Stockton and Tracy and 
south in Bakersfield and Fresno.

So simple economics would tell us that the area with no dispensaries 
is so huge there would be a huge influx of patients to ensure high 
tax revenues and sales and nearly no competition with only a few 
dispensaries being allowed to operate.

Such a club could employ easily 10 to 15 people. Our economy needs 
this legal money and jobs, which nearly every other county and city 
has embraced. We should also be able to learn from other 
dispensaries' mistakes and be one of the safest most successful 
dispensaries in California.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom