Proposed ordinance outlines controls on Long Beach marijuana co...

I thought witch hunts were a thing of the past. Why would the city need the name of every patient in a collective? Dose the city have the name of every patient that goes into CVS or Rite Aid for Prozac, Valium, or OxyContin? Dose the city need to know who uses Preparation H? This is just another shallow attempt by Shannon and Reeves to intimidate legitimate patients and push their extremist agenda onto the city council.

In any group of people there will always be one or two bad apples. What Shannon’s draft sets up is a way for him to close all collectives down with one slip from a bad apple. If we fallow his logic and apply it to the police department, all we would need is one bad cop to break the law and we would have to shut down the entire police department. After all, they are supposed to police themselves right?

Why don't you people call this "medical marijuana" what it really is- California dope growers price protection racket. The whole charade is to the benefit of California high-grade pot growers who have been decimated by Latino importers. If you go into these doctor's offices you can get a prescription for anything from serious illness to chronic headaches. All you have to do is doctor shop until you find an unethical M.D. willing to believe your lies in exchange for a quick $150.00 cash. These so-called "compassionate caregivers" have the price fixed at $400.00 an ounce so they can profit exorbitantly off the suffering of someone's illness. If the federal government still prosecutes for crossing State lines and your regulate and limit the number of dispensaries what you do is guarantee limited supply and high demand along with massive profit potential to the "caregiver". What a joke. The equivalent of saying the only qualified alcohol caregivers are the MOB-(sorry the CA. growers syndicate) for medical alcohol. How much money is California losing like 12 billion a year in high grade pot revenue due to depressed prices from cheap imports? You policies are inherently racist, designed to force out Mexican and South American marijuana and replace it with California-grown MAFIA dope. Where is the public discourse on how many Mexicans will be put out of business and homeless because you fix the marijuana market through phoney regulation designed to protect and privileged few in Northern California?

How many "caregivers" are willing in the essence of helping seriously ill persons, to sell them pot for $25.00 a quarter ounce? Answer- None. Because you cannot profit by hundreds of thousands of dollars a month pretending to help patients. The numbers don't add up people. It is obvious so many new "caregivers" are only interested in getting rich dealing drugs- end of story.

I got one for you, did you know cocaine and opiates can relieve pain? Where are the medical cocaine and heroin clinics? How about medical LSD? Medical Salvia? Medical ecstasy to help with sexual dysfunction?

This is an excuse to sell marijuana and smoke illegal drugs. If you really believe marijuana has any benefits as a drug it should be regulated at the federal level by the FDA. Just wait until the lawsuits start, "Officer the marijuana clinic lied to me and I didn't realize how potent the pot was therefore I am not responsible for killing those two people in a car crash, arrest the caregivers"

Wanna place bets now? You know its coming...

"Dose(sic) the city have the name of every patient that goes into CVS or Rite Aid for Prozac, Valium, or OxyContin?"

As a matter of fact they do. Your full name, address and social security number are on file with the doctor and pharmacy.

"This is just another shallow attempt by Shannon and Reeves to intimidate legitimate patients and push their extremist agenda onto the city council."

Yep, everyone in the government is an "extremist" according to paranoid pot users. If you want to change the government all you have to do is vote, its a free country people. The law begins with "marijuana is a controlled substance" and ends with every clinic in the country facing full and open disclosure to State and Federal agencies. Better hope you really are what you say you are because the whole country is now watching these clinics- and so are the pharmaceutical giants and tobacco companies. I wonder if multi-billion dollar a year companies would like to take control of a 12-18 billion dollar a year California marijuana market? This was the stupidest idea the legalization movement ever came up with, they are guaranteeing they will part in the business in the near future. Getting played right into their hands.

"As a matter of fact they do."

As a matter of fact they DO NOT! Ever hear of a HIPPA law? Medical records are private information.

The CITY dose not have a record of your OxyContin.

The PHARMACY is the only one with that information and you need a court order to inspect it.

This proposal circumvents that very important distinction in an attempt to intimidate and violate the privacy of the patient.

I guranttee, if the city councle goes with this, they will eventually be sued under the HIPPA law and it will cost them millions.

Here are a few facts:
In 1619 the Virginia Assembly passed legislation requiring every farmer to grow hemp. Hemp was allowed to be exchanged as legal tender in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland.

Before the advent of Aspirin, Marijuana was commonly sold by big pharmacies for a whole range of illnesses. Some of those companies are still around today, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly to name a few. It was even taxed under the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937.

Pharmaceutical giants don’t want Marijuana legalized now because it will cut into their profits. For example, I am living with a terminal illness taking medication which is billed to my insurance at a rate of $20,000 per year. If millions of people like myself could grow or buy medication for 1% of that price, think what it would do to the profit margin of the pharmaceutical industry.

Let’s be real, Marijuana is only a plant, it’s been around for thousands of years, its apart of our American fabric and no one has ever died from overuse. On the other hand, alcohol has been around almost as long but causes thousands of deaths every year both indirect from car accidents and direct from overdose and alcohol poisoning.

It is hypocritical to pretend the City Attorney is protecting people by registering marijuana patients. If Bob Shannon was that concerned about public safety, he needs to walk into a bar, take down everyone’s name and give it to the police in case they get in a car accident, beat their wife or start a fight.

Marijuana prohibition isn't doing any good. With or without dispensaries, people are buying and using all the pot they want. Legalize it, tax it, and apply the revenue to our enormous budget problems. Put the narcos and gang-bangers out of business.

John Q Reality wrote:

"Dose(sic) the city have the name of every patient that goes into CVS or Rite Aid for Prozac, Valium, or OxyContin?"
As a matter of fact they do. Your full name, address and social security number are on file with the doctor and pharmacy.

I have NO problem with my doctor and mmj pharmacy having my name, address and social security number on file. What I DO have a problem with is the police department or whatever "department" Shannon may set up having it on file. As someone said in a prior post, this smacks of witch hunt.
"This is just another shallow attempt by Shannon and Reeves to intimidate legitimate patients and push their extremist agenda onto the city council."
Yep, everyone in the government is an "extremist" according to paranoid pot users. If you want to change the government all you have to do is vote, its a free country people. The law begins with "marijuana is a controlled substance" and ends with every clinic in the country facing full and open disclosure to State and Federal agencies. Better hope you really are what you say you are because the whole country is now watching these clinics- and so are the pharmaceutical giants and tobacco companies. I wonder if multi-billion dollar a year companies would like to take control of a 12-18 billion dollar a year California marijuana market? This was the stupidest idea the legalization movement ever came up with, they are guaranteeing they will part in the business in the near future. Getting played right into their hands.

We DID vote in this state. We voted to legalize medical marijuana. In the not too distant future, we will probably vote to legalize marijuana for over 21 use. It is a state's right to govern, not the federal government. If you are not a legal resident of the state, you really have no say in this.

Marvin wrote:

Marijuana prohibition isn't doing any good. With or without dispensaries, people are buying and using all the pot they want. Legalize it, tax it, and apply the revenue to our enormous budget problems. Put the narcos and gang-bangers out of business.

Marvin.

Pot use is an outward manifestation of anti social behavior. The drive to "legalize" this dangerous mind rotting substance is being led by elderly 60s 70s anti social types (now in power) who have contempt for normalcy, as well as well heeled $Billionaires such as George Soros.

The motive of the anti social types is as clear. They desire to "get back" at society for being required to leave the warm comfort of their mother's womb. Soros has made $Billions betting against the currencies of once great nations after evidence of decline had set in. No one would deny clever entrepreneurs the right to "make a quick and easy buck", but what better evidence of that decline is the legalization and acceptance of pot use?

While it is true that "the normals" have been fighting a losing battle ever since the 60s 70s in their efforts to maintain civilization, at least the degenerate anti social 60s 70s types can still be stigmatized, if not arrested, for aberrant behaviors such as pot use. As long as that is true, the complete collapse of civilization can be at least delayed.

Ronald

Craig wrote:

Let’s be real, Marijuana is only a plant, it’s been around for thousands of years, its apart of our American fabric and no one has ever died from overuse. On the other hand, alcohol has been around almost as long but causes thousands of deaths every year both indirect from car accidents and direct from overdose and alcohol poisoning.
It is hypocritical to pretend the City Attorney is protecting people by registering marijuana patients. If Bob Shannon was that concerned about public safety, he needs to walk into a bar, take down everyone’s name and give it to the police in case they get in a car accident, beat their wife or start a fight.

Craig.

You are right. Drunk drivers kill thousands. Why should we worry that zonked out potheads will kill a few thousands more?

Ronald

While it is true that "the normals" have been fighting a losing battle ever since the 60s 70s in their efforts to maintain civilization, at least the degenerate anti social 60s 70s types can still be stigmatized, if not arrested, for aberrant behaviors such as pot use. As long as that is true, the complete collapse of civilization can be at least delayed.

Ronald

What planet are you sending from Ronald?

"Dangerous mind rotting substance” You have no scientific facts to back up this statement.

I bet Carl Sagan (astronomer, astrochemist, and author) who holds a Masters in Physics and a PHD in Astronomy would disagree with you. He was an avid user of Marijuana and even wrote a paper as to its enlightening effects on the brain.

But then again, it doesn’t look like you care about science, facts or reality.

HA, HA, very funny, the nutty guy from the planet "normal" gets smacked down by Carl Sagan.

Actually smacked down from the grave since he past away a few years ago. He probably did more for society in one week then "planet normal guy" will do in his entire life.

You do NOT need to "Doctor Shop" as Mr. Reality suggested.

The "Best" opperations have an office immediately next door, where the letter of referral (it is NOT a prescription) can be written.

For one week the neighbors have watched the opening of a new marijuna dispensory at 3120 Los Coyotes. A small trickle of folks going in. Next door to US Liquor and below residential appartments, 1,200 yards from Milliken, the "Medical Referral" office now looks complete and the "big opperations" should start this week.

It is a curious business. The locals have boyoted the property owner's quickie-mart next door. Some living across the street have been photographing/videoing customers and vehicles that are entering the "sign of the green cross." There is no rear access so everything is in plain open view.

YEAH DUDE

dear dumb ass authority over medical marijuana,

have you heard of the HIPPA Law you idiot.

I expect these shops to be closed soon. YES - they do have the drug users name and address.

It is good that RECORDS are kept. While they will probably not see the inside of a jail-cell, perhaps local operatives will be shut down by Spring.

RECENT NEWS - for those lost in "the purple haze."

Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Newly elected city attorney, Carmen Trutanich, says any sale of cannabis for cash is illegal under state law, so all dispensaries are operating illegally and must close or face prosecution.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The Los Angeles Police Department has begun raiding medical cannabis dispensaries and arresting their operators, even some who have been operating for years under the pre-moratorium rules.

Monday, November 2, 2009
A judge has ruled that five medical marijuana dispensaries in Dana Point must hand over records – including client names -- to the city as part of an investigation into the facilities' operations by Dec. 7.
Although federal prosecutors may now be backing off these facilities, state and local governments are not.

Thursday, October 9, 2009 Los Angeles County District Attorney Steven Cooley told reporters that "about 100%" of the medical cannabis dispensing collectives in Los Angeles County are illegal. D.A. Cooley said he intends to close every one of them..

A quick summary from the office of California Attorney General EDMUND G. BROWN JR

Each co-operative is repsonsible for:

A. Business Forms

B. Business Licenses, Sales Tax, and Seller’s Permits

C. Verification
1) Verify the individual (name, address, DOB, SS#, DL#)
2) Copies should be made of the physician’s recommendation or identification card
3) Maintain membership RECORDS ON SITE or have them available
4) Exclude members whose identification card or physician recommendation are invalid
5) Document each member’s contribution of labor, resources, or money and and record the source of their marijuana.

D. Security
1) Ensure that the surrounding HOMES or businesses are not negatively impacted.
2) Keep accurate records and maintain a general ledger of cash

E. Unlawful Operation:
1) When investigating law enforcement officers should be alert for failure to follow local and state laws applicable to similar businesses, such as maintenance of any required licenses and payment of any required taxes, including sales taxes.

sounds like if one guy get's caught with a bag on the black market then snitches on his dealer who is raided for some pounds and goes to prison, then everyone has to get a new connection.

YEP - It certainly appears the "legalized" pot-selling "days of the wild western frontier" in California will soon be drawing to a close.

Checking the property-profile of this newly opened distributor, it appears the residential units above might not be recorded.

OUCH - I am in pain
OOHH - I am in anxiety
WHEW - Who let the skunk in

We voted this in so let's make it work. Rondald, if you find it so repugnant don't smoke it. Take care of yourself and let others take care as they see fit.
If the shops are running illegally, then set up rules and enforce them but don't stigmatize the patient that is trying to get some relief.
If this is too difficult, then legalize it, regulate it and then tax the heck out of it. That's probably the best solution all around.
BTW, it's NORML not normal (National organization for the reform of marijuana laws).
P.S. I prefer red wine for any ailments I may have, imagined or otherwise. But if I got sick and couldn't eat I'd like the option of marijuana.
Michaela