Sharon Byrne: It’s Time to Ban Marijuana Dispensaries

» Manard G Crebs on 02.17.10 @ 09:56 PM

Thanks for your opinion. Too bad it will not mater after the new governor is elected,all this madness ends, and Marijuana is legalized at last in California.

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» Gina Marie on 02.17.10 @ 11:34 PM

This is an out cry, the doctor’s that prescribe the medicinal cards need to be tougher on who gets an authorization. Currently anybody can walk into a cannabis doctor and fake a injury or pain and come out with a paper stating they have been authorized to buy medicinal marijuana.
The patients that truly are suffering are getting penalized from the fake ones and the fake ones are either selling it on the street or to their friends. The owners of the dispensaries need to get tougher as well and make their employees get background checks and be fingerprinted.
I have seen and talked with several young men ages 12-17 yrs of age that have friends working with-in the dispensaries and they are buying there pot from these employees. They are messing it up for the patients that are truly suffering from severe pain and terminal diseases. Just so you know medicinal cannabis is a lot safer then these chemical legal drugs like Vicodin or NSAIDS which after taking only one of them has the potential to permanently damage your liver.

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» Not Logical Thinking on 02.17.10 @ 11:56 PM

An unpersuasive opinion piece based on “intuition” and not on logic.

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» Robert Berriz on 02.18.10 @ 12:16 AM

You really are doltish aren’t you Sharon Byrne. Look around, things are changing fast, and obviously your being left behind. It doesn’t matter if there is, “a minimum, 17 dispensaries in the Santa Barbara area.” How many bars and liquor stores are there Sharon?
Are you so naive you think this “devil’s weed” the “corrupter of youth” is more dangerous than alcohol?
What about your languid insubstantial statements regarding why the dispensaries should be closed, all of which would be non existent with legalization. More guilty than those actually perpetrating the crimes is you, Sharon Byrne, and all the other ignorant fools who are fighting a battle you can not, will not win, you are to blame. I blame you and your antiquated idea of moral good for the thousands dead, incarcerated, and no hope of a prosperous future. You are wasting your time writing such an inflammatory piece about such hard working business owners, regardless of their field. Yet, I pity you obviously wouldn’t know whats its like; putting your life into a business then to have it taken from you because by a cretinous group of unlearned individuals, striving to cleanse the streets of this plague.
Sharon I’m sorry to say it, but you need to wake up and smell the buds, because in 30 years you’ll be dead. Or for your sake you’ll wish you were cause my generation will control the country, and things will be a lot different.

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» ItsHereToStay on 02.18.10 @ 04:19 AM

the person whom wrote this is merely re-hashing ancient reefer-madness scare tactics and nonsense.  medical cannabis is here to stay.  it’s the best medicine there is for a lot of people .

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» Tax it on 02.18.10 @ 05:55 AM

Excellent article,  Sharon. Thanks for speaking up with the truth that nobody in leadership wants to acknowledge. Well said - everything that everyone has been thinking who is not a pothead. What bugs me is that obviously they are raking it in, or there would not be so much demand for new dispensary permits. At least tax the stuff to offset the increased costs to the community.

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» Michael on 02.18.10 @ 06:56 AM

What a bunch of bs propaganda lol. Clearly written by someone who knows nothing about MMJ, as is usually the case. All this fuss over a plant that has NEVER directly hurt anyone. NEVER. People hurt people, not marijuana.

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» SBforme on 02.18.10 @ 07:06 AM

Sharon.

Cannabis collectives are not brand label, like Starbucks. If you would like to count up the number of COFFEE SHOPS in Santa Barbara and the surrounding area, I’m sure that the number far exceeds the number of collectives currently open in the same geographic zone.

Second of all, the environmental damage that you claim is caused by the fires burning as a direct result of marijuana growers is ridiculous. The Carbon dioxide and methane that are released as a result of burning forest do not even compare to the fossil fuel usage that Santa Barbara drivers use everyday.

Third, on the number of collective in the area. Think of it like restaurants, in a way. Each restaurant has different cuisine—would you rather go to McDonalds or Taco Bell? Each collective has different medicines for different patients, and each type of medication does NOT have the same affect that it would on someone else. Try telling a cancer patient that he can no longer get his medication because of a limit on the number of dispensaries. He will be forced to drive out of town, multiple times, in order to get what he needs. I believe that is completely unnecessary.

Fourth, you, Sharon, are doing medical cannabis patients a disservice by grouping us together with illegal marijuana growers. Just because these people do exist, do grow, and sell illegally, does not mean that every patient in Santa Barbara is associated with them. There are honest people out there with legitimate medical problems who have been a a legitimate doctor and now pay for their marijuana legally, as permitted by Proposition 215, which California, did, in fact, approve.

So, in essence, instead of ignoring the problem and compiling statistical arguments, we should be proactive in our regulation of medical marijuana collectives. Instead of spending time trying to piece together small legalities to put a collective out of business, why don’t we put our taxes and police force towards stamping out illegal clubs—because, as a patient, I can tell you that we do not appreciate following the law and having others not. This is more energy and time efficient and will eliminate investigations of supposed ordinance violations—such as being far too close to a park full of homeless people, not children.

Thanks Sharon.

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» frankie on 02.18.10 @ 07:27 AM

I see what you are getting at. Total legalization would negate the majority of the ‘criminal acts’ above and in effect make all those grows legal.

Agreed. You are on the money.

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» TheRealBillC on 02.18.10 @ 07:33 AM

Equating dispensaries with an increase in crime makes no sense. The crime was there before there were dispensaries and the crime would still be there if alll the dispensaries went away. Dispensaries don’t create crime, making things that people want illegal creates disrespect for the law and criminal activity. People want access to cannabis. If you deny them legal access they will go back to illegal access. You won’t see it, but it will still be there. The dispensaries are sincere in wanting reasonable regulation. They don’t want to have to compete with irresponsible outlets. They want to deliver a quality product and pay taxes and abide by the rules as any other business. Where the community has failed is in not making resonable rules for them to abide by. The obscene profit available from growing and selling illegal cannabis is what is creating the crimianal acts described and that will not stop until recreational use is legal once again as it was before prohibition. If we want to deliver a blow to the drug cartels we need to reduce the price od cannabis until they can no longer make so much money from it. That is what got the mob out of the alcohol business when prohibition of that substance ended and that is what will work now. Since we are so good at ignorng history we have spent the last 30 years and more repeating it.

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» Smile? on 02.18.10 @ 07:48 AM

Medical Marijuana prescribed for frowns - not too far from reality.. Maybe she isn’t happy? I think a smile might send the wrong message.

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» An idea worth considering on 02.18.10 @ 08:09 AM

Have local police stations serve as the dispensaries. This will cut out all illegal activity associated with dispensaries (at least theoretically) and ensure authorized citizens have access to the medication they need.

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» Bruce Holms on 02.18.10 @ 08:22 AM

What a waste of newsletter space.

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» Openureyes on 02.18.10 @ 08:41 AM

Legal Heroin ... a.k.a Morphine obviously you have no idea that the #1 problem for law enforcement currently is the abuse of prescription medications DO SOME RESEARCH
I don’t hear you complaining about the real problems how about the big drug companies for example Bayer, Novartis, 3M   (who all play a part in the meth epidemic)  where is the accountability for the doctors who can control the access to these drugs they prescribe them oxycontin is easier to get from your doctor than a non narcotic pain reliever like tramadol or alternative pain management plan. We can also thank these doctors for the deaths of Michael Jackson, Heath ledger, and Anna Nicole Smith not to mention our countless local prescription medication related deaths .The focus obviously not targeted at the right people   START with the doctors, the doctors who we can thank for defining our treatment plans and our narcotic access,  these dispensaries are trying to make “safe access” they are trying to follow rules and guidelines that make it SAFE for patients to go and get there medication and no access is not a solution   and everyone who thinks that they can decide what medical condition is responsive to medical marijuana should either be a doctor or go and do some serious research.
It will be a HUGE surprise to all of you if marijuana IS criminalized and the street dealers are the only option.  Then see your crime rates
Let the police do their job SERVE AND PROTECT   we welcome regulation!

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» SBlocal on 02.18.10 @ 08:56 AM

Eliminating reputable collectives that follow the law is not the answer for the many ailing patients who rely on marijuana as their medicine.  Parents should take some responsibility and educate their teenagers on the difference between medication and illegal drug use. The people of California voted for medical marijuana and many, many people rely on marijuana as an alternative to prescription medications such as oxycoton, morphine, and many other extremely harmful prescription medications. 

When are we going to recognize that marijuana improves the quality of life for patients with illnesses such as cancer, AIDS, crohn’s disease, chronic pain, to just name a few?  Parents should look in their very own medicine cabinets and see what else their teenagers have access to…

NO ACCESS IS NOT SAFE ACCESS.

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» Sharon Byrne on 02.18.10 @ 09:03 AM

Ryan,

Actually I do agree with you, partially. My sense is that what we’re all struggling with is a void of regulation at the state level. What we have now is worse than legalization because the state hasn’t provided any real way to distribute and regulate medical marijuana. Cities just don’t have the breadth or depth to handle it, and we’re fooling ourselves thinking we can, as a city / county, take on something this big by trying it from a zoning perspective. There’s just too much landscape for a city to cover, as other posters are pointing out. This quasi-legalization just makes it easier for traffickers, and I agree with Gina that it’s ruining things for people for whom Prop 215 was passed.

The Starbucks comparison was made because they are well known for over-saturation in terms of market presence, even opening across the street from one another.

SBForme, if you don’t think burning up 88,000 acres is serious environmental damage, nothing I can say will convince you. Where are those environmentalists when you need them????

For the folks trotting out arguments about how MJ is harmless, all I would say is that I am glad I was not on that plane two weeks ago when that guy went nuts from eating two pot cookies, and attacked the flight crew.

Anon, you’re right: the collective model is a not-for-profit form. It’s just not being followed.

The two forms of distribution allowed by state law are cooperatives and collectives. Here’s the definition of cooperatives per Attorney General Brown:
A cooperative must file articles of incorporation
with the state and conduct its business for the mutual benefit of its members. 
(Corp. Code, § 12201, 12300.)  No business may call itself a “cooperative” (or “co-op”) unless it is properly organized and registered as such a corporation under the
Corporations or Food and Agricultural Code.  (Id. at § 12311(b).)  Cooperative corporations are “democratically controlled and are not organized to make a profit
for themselves, as such, or for their members, as such, but primarily for their members as patrons.”  (Id. at § 12201.)  The earnings and savings of the business
must be used for the general welfare of its members or equitably distributed to members in the form of cash, property, credits, or services.  Coops fall under agricultural codes, and all members are supposed to share in the profits.

Notice that no dispensary organizes as a cooperative.

Collectives are not defined anywhere in state code, so AG Brown looked it up in Webster’s, and provided the following definition:
“a business, farm, etc., jointly owned and operated by the members of a group.”  (Random House Unabridged Dictionary; Random House, Inc. © 2006.)  Applying this definition, a collective should be an organization that merely facilitates the collaborative efforts of patient and caregiver members.

Though dispensaries often use collective in their business name, it’s a business, not patients and caregivers jointly owning it, and coming together to collectively grow and share the marijuana among themselves in a closed-loop.

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» JimInSB on 02.18.10 @ 09:46 AM

Sharon,

You may (unknowingly) be making the same arguments that fearmongers made to support “Prohibition”. 

If you read your history, Prohibition was not successful and was the cause of a huge rise in crime. 

Look at all the movies about it.  Al Capone, Moonshiners. Some people even speculate that the Kennedy’s made their money running Moonshine and Speak Easy’s.

Look at all the crimes you just illustrated surrounding Marijuana.

If you take away the illegality, you take away the need for the crimes.

When Prohibition was lifted, some of the criminals disappeared, many of the rest went into drugs and prostitution.  Some went “Legit”. 

Look at the problems we have at our borders.  People are carrying the stuff on their back along with weapons in their hands to shoot at our Border Patrol. 

Now the Drug Lords are getting smart and cultivating it here in our own back yards.  Read the Police Reports.  They show how the small guy who was “Peacefully” growing Marijuana to make a few bucks is being replaced by Dreg Dealers bringing in Immigrants to “Grow and Guard” their crops. 

Before when you stumbled onto a pot field, their was not problem.  Now their are “Armed Guards” and you fear for your life.

If you make this stuff legal and Tax it like they did Alcohol, not only would we be financially better off, our Police and Border Patrol could use the funds they already have as well as New Tax Dollars to deal with other crimes.  The illicit activities you mentioned would all but disappear.

Read your history.  Their is an old saying about History repeats itself when people forget. 

People had the same arguments about having too many Bars or too many stores that sell liquor.  Any sentence you wrote, just replace Marijuana with Alcohol, and “History Repeats Itself”.

Try thinking about what would happen if Marijuana was legal.  It would be regulated, controlled and taxed.  Just like Alcohol. 

As for your argument about it getting into the hands of “Kids”.  It has been in the hands of Kids since I was in Jr. High.  I am 51 years old. People have joked for years about if you wanted to buy some “Pot” just go the the High Schools.

Please, try to rethink this and do your research about Prohibition.  It is amazing what history can teach us.

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» haha on 02.18.10 @ 09:47 AM

Geez…sounds like someone has a lot of pent up stress and agression for something that does not even touch their life when left to be…Time for someone to hit the bong pipe…...

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» Sharon Byrne on 02.18.10 @ 10:28 AM

@JiminSB, I didn’t make an argument about pot getting into the hands of kids. I also didn’t advocate for prohibition, and am not. I just see that this idea of ‘regulate dispensaries’ is not working. All the wonderful things promised: less crime, less trafficking, etc. have gone the other way - increased crime, increased trafficking.

One of the problems I have with the prohibition stance is that it’s a lead-in to debate on legalization. Sorry, but legalization hasn’t happened yet. We’re only legal for medical marijuana.

Under prop 215, patients can grow their own marijuana under a doctor’s recommendation, have a caregiver grow it for them, or associate collectively with other patients to grow it together. Nothing I have written argues with that. That’s the law. There’s nothing prohibitionist about this. But do I fall for the pop notion that dispensaries are necessary, that we need to be the only city in three counties that allows them, and that we need to accommodate all the traffickers that show up to cash in on our pot culture?

No, I am not signing up for that.

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» Luke Archer on 02.18.10 @ 11:00 AM

Sharon, first of all if you are going to talk about Medical Cannabis, at least do your research.

Let me help you:

“The Endocannabinoid System as an Emerging Target of Pharmacotherapy” by the National Institute of Health

http://www.naturalvip.com/pot/Endocannabinoid_System.pdf

“Marijuana and Medicine” by the Institute of Medicine

http://www.naturalvip.com/pot/Marijuana_Medicine.pdf

“Feds Continue to Barricade Marijuana FDS Drug Development Research” by Jag Davies, ACLU Drug Law Reform Project

http://www.naturalvip.com/pot/Obstruction-of-Research.pdf

And finally:

Look up patent # 6630507 issued to the Federal Government for the use of Cannabis as a Neuroprotectants and Antioxidant.

Now, I am trying to be polite, but with out knowing the facts, you just make yourself look ignorant and frankly like an uneducated bigot.

The fact is that medical cannabis is the world’s best medicine (and oldest).  It treats a myriad of ailments and without any significant side effects.  How many big pharma drugs can say that?  Or can do that?  Has your trusted Western Medicine ever come up with a drug that can treat over 30 different diseases?  Do you want corporations to have authority and control over your personal health?  I don’t.  In my research I have located over 27 patents that big pharma holds on the medicinal use of cannabis.  They are filing the patents, then burying them, so that their profits are protected from the widespread use of this GOD GIVEN MEDICINE.

Please, next time, if you are going to put something out there in an attempt to sway public opinion, at least know what you are talking about.

Kind Regards,

Luke W. Archer
Resident of Santa Barbara
Video Director
San Francisco School of Medicine
Continued Education Program

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» Andrew Gordon on 02.18.10 @ 11:33 AM

Sharon,
The cartels come to those areas because the land is there.  Not because of the dispensaries.  99% of the marijuana never sees the dispensaries.  It gets packed and shipped across the country.  So why don’t you drown some of your sorrows in a bottle and see where that gets you.  A lot closer to harm than marijuana ever could! 
Good Day!

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» Dr. Strangelove on 02.18.10 @ 11:41 AM

Wow….Ban a natural plant that evolved from the ground millions of years before human ever existed. Maybe its not the plant that is to blame for societies problem, maybe its the people. Your just another ignorant brain washed miserable bit#h. This article is actually reverting back to the ignorant propaganda scare tactics of the 1920’s and 30’s

REFER MADNESS!!!!

Get a clue…better yet, get an education.

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» AndrewMMJ Patient on 02.18.10 @ 12:22 PM

What about all the other counties with dispensaries?  Maybe it just has to do with the location that attracts large scale marijuana production?  And that large scale trafficking most likely has no relation to the dispensaries.  Do you think cartels really care about MMJ???  No!  There business is the streets!  Did you ever think about that???

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» Mike on 02.18.10 @ 12:59 PM

why has crime gone down in these areas

check out this site

http://www.examiner.com/x-17593-NORML-Examiner~y2009m8d26-Crime-down-in-states-with-medical-marijuana-dispensaries

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» Michael James on 02.18.10 @ 01:43 PM

I have found in life that not understanding the topics I am commenting on only makes me look uneducated. Congratulations. Repitition and comparison without relevence only go to support that. Perhaps one should brush up on medical marajuana dispensaries and get back to the people of Santa Barbara who take the time to get thier news from Noozhawk.

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» Boycott Boy on 02.18.10 @ 02:25 PM

The government strictly regulates alcohol which kills more people and is the cause of more crime.  Prescription drugs abuse is on the rise, and rapidly becoming the choice of many people seen as role models to kids.  Yet you go on and on about crimes just because their related to pot. Come on, you think all these criminals were nice people until they took a hit of the “devil weed” Quit trying to lay societies woes on my doorstep because I use pot to relive pain, I’m really sick of you uneducated do-gooders calling us criminals because you’re too dense to see it’s benefits… I say legalize pot now so we can drag these morons out of their do-gooders surburbian pipe dreams….keep spoon feeding your unintelligent masses this stupid dribble Sharon, keep telling yourself you got it all worked out…it won’t matter a bit in the long run!

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» Kathy Dreswel on 02.18.10 @ 02:52 PM

From what I have heard, they do tax the weed sold, so instead of some drug dealer getting the money, its actually going to the state. Its going to roads, schools, police. If people are going to do it anyway, shouldn’t the good guys at least get some money off it? In a lot of ways, it is helping the economy, and the community.

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» James on 02.18.10 @ 03:05 PM

Sharon, You are completely wrong and have distorted the facts. Look at the number of bust before the collectives opened. The type of marijuana that the drug cartels provide is not of medicinal grade and does not find it’s way into the collectives. Your saying by making it all illegal that it will cut down on the amount of crime? I think you need to look at history. Prohibition is what makes crime. When I look at what you have written it screams to me that it is time to remove all crimes for marijuana. How many beer cartels are there? or Tabaco or coffee catels selling these highly addictive drugs to our childern?

I think you are correct in part and that is that crime is bad and we need to reduse crime. Legalise Marijuana NOW.

National day of protest March 26 2010

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» Brenda A. Linder on 02.18.10 @ 03:14 PM

You assert that the statements made by collective supporters that allowing collectives to dispense medication to its members under carefully drafted regulations helps control crime, is nothing but “a nice sound bite.” You do not offer any solid evidence to support this assertion, and in fact, you conveniently omit any mention of where you think the qualified patients in your fine town might obtain their medical marijuana if not from the collectives. If you open your mind to nothing else, trust me on this point, when the city I live in decided to shut down 9 collectives which were operating dispensaries, the next morning there was no one more excited then the illegal drug dealer on the street. their business tripled the minute the injunctions were issued. Now, I am not a patient nor a grower but I can tell you this, these patients have a right to obtain and use medical marijuana under state law.  Since that is the law, I would much rather have them obtain it from a regulated collective then some dealer on the street.  Why is that so hard to see?

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» Mr. OC on 02.18.10 @ 03:36 PM

>> Will the people sent by Weedtracker <<

No one was sent, everyone who posted here has their own opinions and equal freedom of speech…
Just like you.

But unlike you, many of them won’t just bury their heads in the sand when masses disagree with them or scream “GO AWAY” and then ignorantly hope everything turns out just the way they wanted it all to be.
Just for them.

That. Is. Just. Not. Happening.

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» Concerned Citizen on 02.18.10 @ 04:05 PM

As an employee of a local dispensary I thought maybe, I could contribute a unique perspective on the issue surrounding medical marijuana dispensaries in Santa Barbara.
While I do agree that the current scenario feels out of control, I also believe this sense does give fodder to those who seek to describe the sky as falling. But I also put forward that law enforcement has been more aggressively acting against illegal operations, thus, possibly creating the perception of a higher level of criminal activity. Crime statistics, however, suggest otherwise. Due to the controversial nature of the subject, any large arrest operations get a high degree of coverage. I also believe law enforcement now has a stronger motive and ability to distinguish between legal medical marijuana activities and illegal activities. It is unfortunate that some dispensaries have been involved in allegedly illegal activities. I agree with the fact that loose regulation and permitting requirements have contributed to this scenario and enabled a few undesirables to try and hide beneath the law so that they can continue in whatever illegal activities they were engaged in prior to. On the other hand, the inference that dispensaries produce more crime is grossly unsubstantiated; even as the model may be abused by a few individuals to cover existing criminal activities. But it is apparent that law enforcement is able to detect this criminal element and take action. The fact that dispensaries operate in a very public and open space probably makes it even easier to detect such criminal activity, and thus, results in increased arrests such as those which we are seeing as of late.
To pick a point of contention, I don’t think you can get away with suggesting that dispensaries have a direct correlation to activities of the Mexican drug cartels in California. You have no factual data to support such an assertion and it is disingenuous to suggest otherwise. The truth is that valid dispensaries take away market from such organized crime syndicates. Prior to the existence of dispensaries these organizations were able to sell their illicit drugs to consumers here in the U.S. and in California. Thus, the argument that they are moving operations here to be closer to dispensaries is illogical. They have always been able to bring their products to consumers. What is more likely is that increased pressure from Mexican and U.S. law enforcement operations is driving them further into the U.S.. Though, it may be true that the criminal element make attempts to operate under the legal veil of dispensaries it also draws them out into the open resulting in more scrutiny and hopefully arrests.
There is more work needed in the area of permitting and state law. There is no argument here. But villainizing all dispensaries as the source of all evil is diversionary. We need to focus on solutions and at the same time accept that medical marijuana is here to stay as a result of the will of voting citizens. Rather than attack dispensaries as a flawed vehicle for dispensing it seems far more prudent to become more proactive in governance; because the lack of good governance really is the cause of what we are seeing today.  Unfortunately, patients and employees such as us suffer as a result of the City’s inability to develop effective, fair and compassionate policy towards dispensaries. 
I believe that most dispensaries seek to operate as legal contributing members of the community, but only those who don’t operate in this way make the front page. As employees of dispensaries we do not get much support from the community, media, police or local officials. We are but mere pawns in a shifting political game where we face the risk of arrest, persecution and unemployment. Most of us do this because we believe in what we do. We believe that our endeavor is a good one which has a far greater positive impact on people’s lives than the media, city government and police would have you believe. Because there is no story in seeing the pain on the face of a terminally ill cancer patient whose only source of relief is medical marijuana. Or in the chemotherapy patient who cannot sufficiently nourish themselves in order to combat their disease, only to rely on medical marijuana in order to finally regain any semblance of an appetite. We see, firsthand, the benefit medical marijuana provides to those in need and we risk our own personal livelihoods in order to serve our patients and the community. And we genuinely want to serve a positive role in our communities.
Though the argument to outright legalize marijuana is a sticky one and even those of us who work in dispensaries have varying opinions on the subject, there is one thing that cannot be argued. Medical marijuana has a strong positive impact of the lives many people. That is why the ambit of California voters enacted Prop 215. I can personally testify to this certainty because I interact with hundreds of members of my community on a weekly basis.
Nobody ever said it would be an easy transition towards the legalization and regulation of medical marijuana.  Nor can it be realistically expected that the process would be without its fair share of problems.  But it is a manageable one. And you cannot justifiably blame dispensaries for the fact that government has failed to do so thus far. But I am fairly sure that after all the oscillations and the indiscriminant closure of dispensaries, the city council and staff will maintain their positions as community servants. And despite the attempts of many to operate with best intentions and with the highest legal standards in mind, I don’t think our industry will enjoy the same job security. So really folks, lets place blame where blame is due. Dispensaries should legally provide medical marijuana to patients and contribute positively to the community. Criminals participate in crime and should be prosecuted accordingly. City government should regulate effectively, fairly and deliberately. Enough said.

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» Stop Wasting Our Time With This Drivel on 02.18.10 @ 07:22 PM

Ms. Byrne states:

“Santa Barbara just ranked No. 6 on a nationwide survey of cities for well-being, which seems utterly incongruent with an illness rate that requires 17 medical marijuana dispensaries.”

I hate to tell you Sharon, but perhaps enjoying a bit of the good herb has filled SB with a sense of well-being. Perhaps all you stressed-out Republicans (that includes you too Petry) need to smoke out a bit, or eat some muffins and maybe you won’t always get so angry about things.

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» Marcus on 02.18.10 @ 08:54 PM

Just reading the 1st few comments does anyone even realize state ballot measure or no State ballot measure it cant be legalized until the Fed’s legalize it?

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» Responsible on 02.19.10 @ 10:36 AM

Re: “Medical Heroin” - DUH - it’s called a Methadone CLINIC.

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» The Local Sb on 02.19.10 @ 11:11 AM

Sharon, How about you get crystal meth and tranny hookers out of Santa Barbara.. i feel that all the shady clubs should be shut down because the cancer, aids, terminally ill who have been fighting to have medical cannabis get pushed in the dark because of idiots doing dumb things. i watched a friend slowly die because if there illness and cannabis is the only think that helped him with the pain. why dont you go meet some patients who are suffering before you try and bash on a subject you really dont know anything about. i worked for clubs and have seen both sides of the story first hand. Like i Said why dont you guys go after Crystal Meth with Destroys Familys and Kids, Hookers off the Street…  So Sad Santa Barbara Leaders focus time on marijuana and not on Evil Drugs like Meth…...

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» Ryan G on 02.19.10 @ 04:02 PM

“For the folks trotting out arguments about how MJ is harmless, all I would say is that I am glad I was not on that plane two weeks ago when that guy went nuts from eating two pot cookies, and attacked the flight crew.”

All I had to do was google “drunk flight attack” and immediately found far more instances, and far worse instances, than you described.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/21/1090089223414.html

http://airline-advisor.com/2010/01/13/man-gets-drunk-locks-himself-in-bathroom-shaves-shirtless-and-gets-flight-diverted/

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/01/09/2010-01-09_drunk_on_plane_stirs_f16_flyby.html

You shouldn’t make arguments without a logical defense. If you are arguing that cannabis is dangerous because one person attacked another while under its influence, then you are climbing a slippery slope.

Here’s reading material concerning cannabis and related aggression:
http://ncpic.org.au/ncpic/publications/factsheets/article/cannabis-and-aggression

Here’s a comparison of the health effects between the use of alcohol and the use of marijuana:
http://www.saferchoice.org/content/view/24/53/

You are only hurting your own cause when you make baseless arguments.

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» John Niro on 02.20.10 @ 10:55 AM

Sharon wake up it’s the 21st century and it’s a proven fact Medical Marijuana is saving lives !! Guess how many people have died due to an overdose of Marijuana ? Answer—none !!No one ever !! Now aspirin on the other hand kills people , cigaretts? millions die ! Alcohol ? I don’t even want to guess how many !! And how many people have to deal with drunks leaving local bars and resturants !? No one hangs around dispensaries and causes problems ! Stop wasting taxpayers money on a phoney war against a non dangerous herb ! Maybe all the Legal Medical Marijuana patients should get together and file a class action lawsuit against the S.B.Sheriffs office for this raid!

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» tellitaseeit on 02.21.10 @ 12:55 AM

By the way….
Looking at Sharons picture I see..Alcohol, cigarettes and a penchant for bleach.
Smile girl…smoke some OG and I bet you will.

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» anthony on 02.23.10 @ 01:07 AM

Face it, the fact is that there does not need to be anywhere near this number of “dispensaries” to serve those that have a LEGITIMATE need to use marijuana.

That’s the problem, everyone is running around chanting how these businesses are serving the MEDICAL need of patients all over town.  Yet the simple fact is that only a small percentage of those that patronize these shops can honestly make that claim.

The majority of these “prescriptions” are completely bogus and simply used as a license to get high.  Getting high is NOT what the purpose of MEDICAL MARIJUANA is for.  Who does not understand that?  Really?

For those of you that cannot see the forest through the trees, as this situation spirals completely off target, a few things are going to happen…

Physicians are bound by FEDERAL laws.  Those laws are quite clear on writing bogus prescriptions too.  It won’t be long until all the attention and controversy drawn to this issue reaches a point where the Feds are going to step in and kill it all.  That is going to harm the very people this is intended to help, those with a LEGITIMATE MEDICAL NEED.

There are statistics that show what percentage of any given population truly fits the criteria for legitimate need for medically prescribed pot. It is not rocket science to see that when an area has 4-5 times that amount of prescriptions, the system is being abused.

Add to that all of this arguing by people that clearly are not in that small, select, group and the inevitable conclusion can only be that the reason for all that outcry is simply this, those people want to GET HIGH.  They do not have cancer or glaucoma.  No, they used whatever creative manipulation they could come up with to get that precious card… self diagnosed ADD, hangnails, whatever… all a crock of BS.

Face it, you are your own worst enemy here.  Publicly screaming and kicking when the City tries to scale it back to the actual “legal” dispensaries is only going to draw more attention to what is really going on. That is going to cause a much bigger problem and the Feds WILL kill it all.

Too bad you could not just play by the rules that the City and County have laid out.  After all, that still provided you with a place to get your fix.  No, you are bound and determined to cause it ALL to get shut down through your own myopic actions.

...and the real victims?  Those people who really DO have a medical need to ease their suffering… they are going to get screwed thanks to you all.

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» realist on 02.24.10 @ 01:02 PM

The Pharmacies will not distribute Medical Marijuana due to the fact that there is not a billion dollar industry of Pharmaceuticals and all the lobbying and freebies that come with it.
Pfizer has to sell their Pills by the handfuls.
Hmmm, a red one to pick me up in the morning, one for stress, one for high blood pressure, one for discolored toenails, one for gas, one for twitchy legs, one to bring me down, one to help have sex and then one to put you to sleep.  And all we have to offer is a simple weed.

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» Zaatar19 on 03.15.10 @ 01:03 AM

To Curious: I was about to ask the same thing>

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