Pubdate: Thu, 31 Mar 2016
Source: Orange County Register, The (CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Orange County Register
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321

GROWING LEGAL POT BUSINESS

Santa Ana, to its credit, has been proactive in what seems to be the 
inevitable end to marijuana prohibition as it continues to fine tune 
its legalized system for medical marijuana dispensaries in a way 
agreeable to the city's residents.

Still, making legal dispensaries a reality in the city has taken far too long.

Now, we come to discover that, nearly a year and a half after Santa 
Ana residents approved the ballot measure that created a legal 
framework for dispensaries, "officials say there are up to twice as 
many unlicensed pot retailers as sanctioned shops in the city," 
according to a recent report in the Register.

"The Santa Ana Police Department has a dedicated task force working 
on enforcement of the medical pot industry and says it has shut down 
more than 90 of the 109 unlicensed operations identified to date," 
the Register noted.

The city believes there are about 20 remaining illegal operators. 
Only three legal dispensaries have opened, while 10 of the approved 
20 have made it through the permitting process.

But until the pace of opening legal dispensaries more closely 
approximates the zeal with which illegal operators are closed, issues 
with the illicit trade will continue, if not in Santa Ana, then in 
neighboring cities where dispensaries don't have legal competition.

As we learned from Prohibition, making something illegal doesn't end 
demand for it. Be it alcohol or marijuana, until legally permissible 
options are made available to users, as voters intended in approving 
Measure BB, users will find other ways to obtain what they want.

Only by providing consumers options in the marketplace, through a 
legal and straightforward process, will the illegal marijuana trade 
be controlled, and licensing delays are only further enriching the 
illicit marijuana market.

Plus, while the prolonged licensing process harms the legitimate 
operators, who are placed at a competitive disadvantage against their 
illicit rivals by agreeing to the regulatory hurdles and hefty fees 
the city requires, it is also denying revenue to the city.

Santa Ana must move faster to grow the marketplace and get its legal 
marijuana operators open for business.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom