LA to outlaw medical marijuana dispensaries!

thats gay

WAY More than gay

Didn't Cali vote on this? Now the City takes it back?

Sounds like some people in office need to be kicked out for not listening to the people.

sounds like its time to join the collective and throw up some grow lights

as fucked as the la economy is, you'd think la would follow berkeley, oakland and tax the shit, instead it's gonna cost the city more if they do this.

they are betting on people having short memories come election time and being too preoccupied with some celebrity being arrested... probably will extradite Roman Palanski for trial a week before elections to distract everyone

Damn just renewed my card over the weekend. WTF?

I will say it again.

The vast majority of clubs are operating illegally. I fucking helped draft the damn vague ass prop 215 law.

They can not just sell pot. They must do so as either a co-op or a CSA. Everyone working in them must also be a card carrying care giver. The amount of patients needs to line up with the supply of pot you have. You also need to either know the rest of the rules or you need to have options where people can work for their medicine, or just pay the very nominal and reasonable fee it costs to produce the pot for them. 12.00 to 22.00 per gram is not neither nominal nor reasonable. Also how many are offering discounts for medi-cal patients and such?

Never mind, I will just get flak.

Well technically the state is not following the entire law, but the people have not held them up to 1 major part of it.

Then as I said the vast majority of clubs are still breaking the law that was voted in. So technically no the city would not be taking it back, unless they close some that are doing it right.

how'd that come about?

If that happens you'll see so many collectives springing up in LA you'd think Chairman Mao got elected mayor.

I was friends with Dennis Peron. I had been arrested with him a few times. I have been thrown out of my chair in handcuffs and left on a cement floor while masked DEA and CA cops (no badge numbers present nor given) walked around us in full body armor, rolling us around with their boots, yelling questions at us, and denying us either charges or council, only to be uncuffed and have them vanish more than once. It all finished when I had to face charges of conspiracy versus the united states of america, with a mandatory minimum of 25 years and a maximum or life in jail.

On the plus side the supreme court did refuse to hear a case about people just exchanging pot for cash in collectives. Which "should" help those such clubs that are buying pot to resell to patients but well that is not 100% safe.

wow!! I'm not sure what else to say

elections are coming up and this guy obviously has supporters he needs to please...

fact is, the city is making so much money from the hundreds of dispensaries, they are not going to just close them down. This asshat is just getting attention to get donations to his campaign fund, probably from businesses not making as much money as the dispensaries.

how is the city making so much money from them?

WHAT?????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????

Ahem. I mean, what?

the federal laws need to change.. i was hoping california would lead the way.. i used to smoke occasionally but dont really anymore..

i have always felt that pot is no different than alcohol.. either bring back prohibition or make pot legal..

shit

without medical marijuana despenseries there is no los angeles. if that law actually passes id be literally shocked, i mean could you even imagine copping a dime bag on the street like a common degenerated drug addict??? dude id fucking kill myself.

I thought this was how they planned on raising more tax revenue?

Very true, and I'm with you on the whole charging 11 to 22 for a gram, it's pretty fucking ridiculous and definitely gouging. I've never had a pharmacist ask me, "So do you want 30 pills for $50 or 65 pills for $100?" I wish it were a little more like a pharmacy and less like a drug exchange.

Question for ya, how many people does it take to start a legal marijuana co-operative? I have a few friends that grow for themselves and was wondering this. I finally have an opportunity to ask someone who actually might know.

they've all moved down to orange county, the new 420 spot for medical marijuana. make it legal and lets move on. tax it and make money.

I can say there were many people in a lot worse condition than me being denied other medications, water, and even oxygen. We are talking hospice type cancer people, advanced aids people, whole mess of seniors and well yes it was fucked up. I know the 2nd time they did it they noticed video cameras and ripped those out while people were being held.

It is late right now. Feel free to email me. I can get you all the information you need and how to stay legit.

Will do!

ASM with the pot shocker, this guy is just full of surprises.

BTW pot clubs that cater to non sick people under the guise of "medical MJ" should be shut down, real medical clubs give away cannabis to critically ill people.

You can't have some drug dealing hippiecrite pothead ruining that for their own monetary gain, honestly that is the reason why I lost faith in Vancouver's cannabis clubs & Hillary Black [they just sell weed at street price, calling it medical.]

I have posted it before on here a few times and it is all public record. Well the being detained a few times did not get too much news coverage as there was only witnesses and no visual media to help push the story, so they typically got some small paragraph in some paper.

There was a lot of infighting when 215 was being written but do keep in mind to many Dennis was god and getting people to go against him was not easy. Dennis wanted it very vague on purpose, I wanted it more straightforward. He wanted to leave in easy loopholes to allow it to erode at the general laws on marijuana itself, I wanted it as purely a medical law and felt it would give opposition ammo to fight it if they saw it as a way to bypass the marijuana laws for the common person.

When I did have my own co-op we did sell at certain prices as per requested by our local sheriff that I was working with. He did not want us to undercut the street value to much, because he was concerned that people would buy from us and sell it on the street for a profit. I did bring up that people do this with all sorts of prescription medications already but we did come to an agreement and I did want law enforcement on my side.

Nothing we sold was at street value. People on medi-cal (state insurance for the poor) paid considerably less. People were able to also donate time, labor, or other skills in exchange for their medicine. Then 25% of all over the counter non discounted sales went into a fund to help those who could not afford the medicines and or food that they needed. Yes we also ended up being a food bank too. We were adding in other services when I learned there was a federal warrant for my arrest. That is when I placed all patient records and doctor records (remember they can loose their DEA licenses) into secure hidding. Then I turned myself in. Only person they could come after was me, my doctors and patients were never on the table despite their demands.

I also beat them at their own silly game when it came to charges. The DA who charged me knew nothing about me, not that I was in a chair, etc. Her look changed the second I entered the court room. I had my list of needs and demands if I were to be detained for medical reasons, signed off by a doctor. The DA wanted a 1 million dollar cash only bail, wanted random drug testing, and some other assorted shit. I first got the released on OR, which pissed her off. She got the drug testing but it had to give me 24 hours prior notice to arrange for transportation and due to medical needs, it also had to exclude THC as I had a valid prescription for marinol (never used it but oh well) which would give a positive. So she was not able to test for the drug she was after. I did have to ask for permission to leave my county, never was an issue. Other than that that the trial just went on for close to a year or so. Oh I was also forbidden from operating such a club or co-op during the trial.

They are a business. They pay for permits, pay taxes, pay building rental fees, employ people and pay taxes on them, etc etc. Probably pay some sort of insurance. All sorts of expenses to run a business like that. The city profits. $$$$

You may be surprised.
Technically most or all of the employees should be vollenteers and not paid employees.
Many cities will not issue them a business license, just a Tax ID permit so you can pay sales taxes.
They can pay basic insurance but good luck on finding an insurance company that will cover any aspect of the marijuana itself.
They would typically have to pay a landlord for rent, often this just goes out of town or to wherever the landlord lives.
They do employ legal council and have to use if often. A local club that has only been open 2 weeks its being challenged to move out of the shopping center by all of the other stores in the center.

The city may claim that it causes a rise in crime in such areas that the clubs opperate. Then like I said about all they get to profit on is the sales tax on a medicine - when was the last time you did that?

got it. wasn't aware the city of los angeles taxed businesses. i guess i haven't been paying that one.

business permit? free in los angeles county
building rental fees? go to the owner, not the city.

insurance? again, to a private entity.

fact is, the city doesn't make anything off dispensaries at this point, thus my comment earlier, los angeles should follow the lead set by oakland and berkeley.

regards.

I have family that works at a dispensary and another who runs a clinic and does massive amounts of business with the dispensaries. I'm not surprised, I am informed. My sister is a receptionist at a dispensary, she certainly is not volunteering and they tax her wages.

Every single friend of mine over there, even my own Father, has a card and is a regular now. The industry of it all is huge, and profitable on many levels.

Go try to open a business in Los Angeles without a license, and see how fast they are up your ass. And renting out a building to another business involves paying the city too. You don't live in LA or have ever done business there, have you? It is not cheap.

And sure, the city could claim it causes a rise in crime, but I am talking about Los Angeles. They care more about the money than the crime, seriously.

Do you people not understand how cities get rich and profit from businesses? Rome certainly wasn't built in a day, as they say.

los angeles is rich?

mmmmmmmmmmmkay.

So are you saying it is free to do business in Los Angeles? No business license, no fees?

you can't even run a business out of your home for free in LA.

btw...

http://laist.com/2009/07/15/marijuan...r_weed_sol.php

they will be taxing it soon, you will see...

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h2835/show

there are 8 dispenseries within a 2mile radius of my house...they seem to be the only businesses holding up...there is no way they can do this in their right mind

You are the expert cherrylula, carry on.

My perspective is just that of a legal co-op, not a drug store front acting as one.
LA may have in place their own permit tax, and I would not be surpised if they charged sales tax.
I know landlords pay property tax, and if you really wish to dig into it. Sure they could be passed on to the tenets.
I am not an idiot, I am not uneducated, and I do my best to not talk down to people. So at very least try to extend the same.

VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS:

1. Will there ever be a dispensary in New Yawk fucking City (where I live and NEED one, bad; I gots 'glaucoma')

2. DO THESE LA DISPENSARIES DELIVER???

Thank you in advance for your answers.

i am more than up-to-date on what it takes to operate my business in los angeles.

if you read my post, i never said no business license or fees.

i really didn't intend for this to be a tit for tat with you, i simply asked how the city profits sooo much from dispensaries. now that you answered, i can see you are shooting from the hip with your comments.

that;s cool, it's gfy!

no idea about #1, but #2 is a yes.

hey really, I am not an expert. I'm just saying as someone from LA who left a couple years ago and going back hopefully sooner than that, its like a green revolution over there and no way are they going to just outlaw these places.

I'm not trying to talk down to anyone, but on this board it is always someone not from the place they are an expert about spouting off. Not trying to attack anyone but it is frustrating seeing things said when I know otherwise. So pardon my tone. The dispensaries are not going anywhere.

If there is one thing you can count on about Los Angeles, its that they will get their piece of the pie.

a lot has changed in los angeles in the last 2 years.

you would know that if you lived here.

yeah it sucks I left in 06, but plan on being back soon.

I know one thing, a lot of people I used to know must have had to get real jobs by now with the availability of cannabis legally.

soooo many weed dealers out of work, lol

i do my best to keep every weed operation around in biz.

i know, i know, it's tough, but i am diligent.

and yeah I am missing all the fun. You see, these places have become very competitive. So for first time customers they give you all these freebies.

My sister goes to new places all the time, and gets all these free joints and things, its hilarious. And the place she is a regular at now hooks her up with extra grams all the time. They even have a hash bar you can smoke at one place where she goes. It is crazy that this has all changed in the last couple years, but its very real.

I can't wait to move back. I live in the booze capital of the US and don't drink, and miss the decriminalized cannabis.

People getting into the business of this right now are making tons of money, and the city will continue to regulate it. But huge profits are and will continue to be made. It is pretty exciting.

legal or illegal?

1 you assume I never visit LA.
2 in most every post, forget about what LA wants just consider this just about every behavior that you have posted that they do is illegal, get it. Who cares what LA says or wants. If they are breaking CA law, and also federal law they can and will get busted. By the way many LA clubs do get raided still.

Way to many are just operating as legal drug fronts. Legally they need to be not for profit, or non profit. Yes you can make money as such but again most clubs are not following such rules yet again.

There is only 1 city really doing it right currently and that is Oakland. Yes before you even ask or assume I have visited clubs in just about every county in CA.

both. the dispensary i frequent is in long beach and has the kill kill, but my hook-up often comes up with some crazy shit. when he calls, i know i have some bomb shiz on the way.

my main goal is to always vary the strains i schmoke, never stick with one for longer than a week or less, and switch em out all the time.

Sure, but my sister just got pulled over in LA with an ounce of weed, a pipe, and her card and didn't even get a ticket. The cop didn't tell her anything. Sure clubs get raided, and alcohol bars get in trouble for serving minors, liquor stores get in trouble for selling kids cigarettes. All these places have to be monitored, just the way it is. They need to update the cannabis laws in this country, and they most likely will at some point. But it has been decriminalized since the seventies already in CA.

Who cares what LA wants? LA is a pretty influential city in California, and the state needs them too and their money. Hollywood owns California.

and you know this how...? Sure people are breaking rules, no doubt. But Rite Aid sure isn't a non profit business, why should a marijuana pharmacy be non profit?

yeah, Oakland voted on a tax, good for them.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS...ornia.pot.tax/

Let me add, I am not against paying taxes on it and it being a legal business. I know its pretty wild what is going on in LA right now, but they will tame it and tax it, etc.

Seriously, as someone who has been a part of the cannabis culture of Los Angeles pretty much my entire life because I was born to two pot heads in the seventies, I think it is awesome the city is doing this because millions of money is/was made by flakey pot dealers and I personally became tired of dealing with them just to get a little weed. I've known too many shady dealers and it is about time they go forward with more legalization.

I am all for it being regulated just like alcohol and pills.

totally agree on the shitty dealers comment.

ugh.

they should be a non profit or not for profit because thats what the law says. You do not see rite aid in CA selling alcohol after 2am (could be earlier in stores) either now do you, why? because that is what CA law says.

You may want to think LA has all of this power. The state is not stupid. LA just happens to be the extra expensive red headed slave. If it came to vote every other county would gladly kick LA out of the state no questions asked. I do also call it a slave as it is beholden to the rest of the state. It has lost almost all of its production power, the only thing it has left really is entertainment. They no longer produce any agriculture of any significance, they fuck with the rest of the states insurance premiums (all of them), they have to depend on water contracts - many of which are coming up for renewal and unlike in the early 1900's the city has let its power slip. Then on top of that it is a money pit for the state. So to make it simple water owns California. In case you have not noticed even Hollywood lost its grip on production.

As for Oakland it is much more than they voted on a tax (remember your original argument was about LA making money), the clubs pushed for the tax to be placed on them. They have also layed the foundations of how the clubs were intended to be ran. None of their neighbors have issue with the clubs either and they really do not get raided. They offer schools on running clubs, growing your own, and all of the other tidbits of the law.

Good for you and your youth. I too grew up around it, just most of what I grew up around was occasionally delivered to you all down there, typically it was kept local or sent to NY. Most of these people latter moved onto coke and the few remaining pot farmers set up shop a little west of where I am today. I still remember spending a birthday with my dad while he had to do a job with his grader, we spent most of the day leveling a half mile of dirt in the forest so a plane could land.

No need to go tit for tat. We have different views and I will leave it at that. I will stay on the legal side. I already been down the other road and barely made it out.