THE DISPENSARIESTHE DISPENSARIES

The CustomersThe Customers

THE MYTHTHE MYTH: MEDICAL MJ IS ONLY : MEDICAL MJ IS ONLY RECOMMENDED FOR THE RECOMMENDED FOR THE SERIOUSLY ILL SERIOUSLY ILL THE FACTTHE FACT: MEDICAL MJ CAN BE : MEDICAL MJ CAN BE RECOMMENDED FOR ANY RECOMMENDED FOR ANY AILMENT THAT “MJ PROVIDES AILMENT THAT “MJ PROVIDES RELIEFRELIEF” ”

The Sick?The Sick?

Marijuana is recommended for any Marijuana is recommended for any ailment. The majority of these ailment. The majority of these recommendations are for insomnia, recommendations are for insomnia, anxiety, depression and muscle pain. anxiety, depression and muscle pain.

Of the records we have seen, Cancer, Of the records we have seen, Cancer, Glaucoma, and Aids patients made up Glaucoma, and Aids patients made up less than 3% of the people receiving less than 3% of the people receiving medical MJ from the dispensariesmedical MJ from the dispensaries

‘‘Customer’ AilmentsCustomer’ Ailments

Dispensaries Sell to the YoungDispensaries Sell to the Young

The Majority of the patients are under 30 The Majority of the patients are under 30 years old. years old.

The number of patients over the age of 50 The number of patients over the age of 50 equals the number of patients under 20.equals the number of patients under 20.

San Diego’s Youthful IllSan Diego’s Youthful Ill

Widespread Ability to Buy Widespread Ability to Buy MarijuanaMarijuana

THE MYTHTHE MYTH: MJ WILL ONLY BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO NEED IT

THE FACTTHE FACT: “PATIENTS” ARE ROUTINELY PROVIDED MJ RECS THAT LAST FOR A YEAR WITH NO FOLLOW-UP CARE. A RECOMMENDATION CAN BE OBTAINED IF YOU CAN STATE YOU SUFFER FROM ANY AILMENT AND MARIJUANA MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER.

THE DOCTORSTHE DOCTORS

ADVERTISE IN THE READERADVERTISE IN THE READERSOME PREQUALIFY PATIENTS ONLINESOME PREQUALIFY PATIENTS ONLINEDR’S GIVING OUT MJ RECS FOR DR’S GIVING OUT MJ RECS FOR EVERYEVERY AILMENT – INCLUDING PMS, AILMENT – INCLUDING PMS, A.D.D., TOURETTES SYNDROME, A.D.D., TOURETTES SYNDROME, SCHIZOPHRENIA, ALCOHOLISM ETC SCHIZOPHRENIA, ALCOHOLISM ETC MORE THAN 50% OF THE RECS MORE THAN 50% OF THE RECS FOUND AT THE DISPENSARIES CAME FOUND AT THE DISPENSARIES CAME FROM 2 DOCTORS.FROM 2 DOCTORS.

THE THE “RECOMMENDATION” “RECOMMENDATION”

A MARIJUANA A MARIJUANA PRESCRIPTION?PRESCRIPTION?

Legalization of Marijuana by Legalization of Marijuana by DoctorsDoctors

MYTHMYTH: A DR’S RECOMMENDATION : A DR’S RECOMMENDATION FOR MARIJUANA WORKS JUST LIKE A FOR MARIJUANA WORKS JUST LIKE A PRESCRIPTION.PRESCRIPTION.

FACTFACT: A RECOMMENDATION HAS NO : A RECOMMENDATION HAS NO REASONABLE CONTROLS ON THE REASONABLE CONTROLS ON THE AMOUNT OF MJ A PERSON CAN AMOUNT OF MJ A PERSON CAN POSSESS.POSSESS.

A RECOMMENDATION HAS NO SET AMOUNTS OR A SET AMOUNT BY THE PATIENT IT IS NOT TAKEN BY THE PATIENT AND IS JUST USED TO PROVE HE/SHE CAN POSSESS MARIJUANA.THERE IS NO RECORD KEEPING OR CONTROLS ON THE AMOUNT OF MARIJUNA A PERSON IS ACTUALLY USING, GIVING AWAY, OR SELLING.IT SOMETIMES EVEN RECOMMENDS HOW MANY PLANTS YOU CAN HAVE DESPITE THE YIELD OF A PLANT BEING A TOTAL UNKNOWN.THE LACK OF CONTROLS ON THE AMOUNTS A PATIENT CAN POSSESS MAKES IT SIMPLE FOR A “PATIENT” TO ILLEGALLY SELL OR DIVERT MARIJUANA

What is the dosage amount a What is the dosage amount a recommendation allows a recommendation allows a Marijuana patient to have?Marijuana patient to have?

The answer is as much as the patient says The answer is as much as the patient says he/she needs...he/she needs...

The marijuana “medicine” sold at the The marijuana “medicine” sold at the “dispensaries” is sold off a menu board like a “dispensaries” is sold off a menu board like a cafe and not only can a “patient” obtain various cafe and not only can a “patient” obtain various “varieties” of marijuana, but they also can get “varieties” of marijuana, but they also can get items containing marijuana, such as candy bars, items containing marijuana, such as candy bars, “marinara sauce for two”, pie, baklava, oils, “marinara sauce for two”, pie, baklava, oils, creams and honey. Whatever they “need”.creams and honey. Whatever they “need”.

How long does a marijuana patient How long does a marijuana patient need marijuana?need marijuana?

The recommendations are routinely 1 year The recommendations are routinely 1 year no matter what you suffer from.no matter what you suffer from.

Even if you no longer “need” marijuana for Even if you no longer “need” marijuana for the illness it was recommended for, the the illness it was recommended for, the recommendation is still good for the year.recommendation is still good for the year.

Renewal from year to year is easily Renewal from year to year is easily obtained because the recs are so easy to obtained because the recs are so easy to get in the first place.get in the first place.

““Primary Caregivers”Primary Caregivers”

The law provides that medical marijuana The law provides that medical marijuana patients can have a primary caregiver.patients can have a primary caregiver.

Primary caregiver means the individual, Primary caregiver means the individual, designated by a qualified patient ... Who designated by a qualified patient ... Who has consistently assumed responsibility for has consistently assumed responsibility for the housing, health, or safety of that the housing, health, or safety of that patient.. (HS CODE 11362.7(d))patient.. (HS CODE 11362.7(d))

Is This Providing Care?Is This Providing Care?

MYTHMYTH – A PRIMARY CAREGIVER IS ONLY – A PRIMARY CAREGIVER IS ONLY SOMEONE WHO IS NEEDED TO HELP SOMEONE WHO IS NEEDED TO HELP PROVIDE CARE FOR A PERSON WHO IS SO PROVIDE CARE FOR A PERSON WHO IS SO SERIOUSLY ILL THAT THEY CAN’T HELP SERIOUSLY ILL THAT THEY CAN’T HELP THEMSELVES.THEMSELVES.FACTFACT: DISPENSARIES HAVE “PATIENTS” : DISPENSARIES HAVE “PATIENTS” THAT THEY HAVE NO RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT THEY HAVE NO RELATIONSHIP WITH AT ALL DESIGNATE THEM AS THEIR AT ALL DESIGNATE THEM AS THEIR “PRIMARY CAREGIVER”. THEN THE “PRIMARY CAREGIVER”. THEN THE DISPENSARY SELLS THEM WHATEVER MJ DISPENSARY SELLS THEM WHATEVER MJ THE “PATIENT” WANTS.THE “PATIENT” WANTS.

HOW IT WORKSHOW IT WORKS

I GET REC FROM A MEDICAL MJ DOCTOR I GET REC FROM A MEDICAL MJ DOCTOR FOR 1 YEAR.FOR 1 YEAR.I DESIGNATE MY FRIENDS AS MY PRIMARY I DESIGNATE MY FRIENDS AS MY PRIMARY CAREGIVER(S)CAREGIVER(S)NOW MY FRIENDS AND I HAVE NOW MY FRIENDS AND I HAVE DOCUMENTATION THAT ON ITS FACE DOCUMENTATION THAT ON ITS FACE ALLOWS US TO POSSESS MARIJUANA FOR ALLOWS US TO POSSESS MARIJUANA FOR “MEDICAL PURPOSES”.“MEDICAL PURPOSES”.NOW, IF POLICE SHOW UP AT ONE OF THE NOW, IF POLICE SHOW UP AT ONE OF THE FRIENDS’ HOUSE AND FIND PLANTS OR MJ, FRIENDS’ HOUSE AND FIND PLANTS OR MJ, THE “CAREGIVER” JUST SAYS, “I AM THE “CAREGIVER” JUST SAYS, “I AM GROWING FOR THE PATIENT I CARE FOR.” GROWING FOR THE PATIENT I CARE FOR.”

HOW IT WORKSHOW IT WORKS

THERE IS NO RECORD KEEPING OF WHO THERE IS NO RECORD KEEPING OF WHO THE “PRIMARY CAREGIVERS” ARE.THE “PRIMARY CAREGIVERS” ARE.

DOCTORS WILL SELL YOU A CAREGIVER DOCTORS WILL SELL YOU A CAREGIVER FORM OR GIVE YOU A BLANK FORM SIGNED FORM OR GIVE YOU A BLANK FORM SIGNED BY THE DOCTOR.BY THE DOCTOR.

ONE OF THESE FORMS WAS USED TO BUY ONE OF THESE FORMS WAS USED TO BUY MJ FOR A NARCOTICS K9 AT A MJ FOR A NARCOTICS K9 AT A DISPENSARY.DISPENSARY.

DISPENSARIES –DISPENSARIES –PRIMARY CAREGIVERS?PRIMARY CAREGIVERS?

DISPENSARIES HAVE THEMSELVES DISPENSARIES HAVE THEMSELVES DESIGNATED AS A “PRIMARY CAREGIVER” DESIGNATED AS A “PRIMARY CAREGIVER” DESPITE THEIR ONLY RELATIONSHIP WITH DESPITE THEIR ONLY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PATIENT IS THEY SUPPLY MJTHE PATIENT IS THEY SUPPLY MJIF YOU HAVE YOUR PAPERWORK, YOU GET IF YOU HAVE YOUR PAPERWORK, YOU GET MJ. THERE IS NOTHING TO PREVENT THE MJ. THERE IS NOTHING TO PREVENT THE “PATIENT” FROM GETTING MJ FROM OTHER “PATIENT” FROM GETTING MJ FROM OTHER SOURCES SUCH AS ANOTHER SOURCES SUCH AS ANOTHER DISPENSARY.DISPENSARY.THE ONLY “CARE” THEY PROVIDE IS THEY THE ONLY “CARE” THEY PROVIDE IS THEY SELL MJ TO WHOEVER HAS “PAPERWORK”SELL MJ TO WHOEVER HAS “PAPERWORK”

MARIJUANA DEALERS AS MARIJUANA DEALERS AS CAREGIVERSCAREGIVERS

MYTHMYTH: DISPENSARIES ARE : DISPENSARIES ARE LEGITIMATE HEALTH CARE LEGITIMATE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES THAT PROVIDE CARE AND FACILITIES THAT PROVIDE CARE AND COUNSELING TO PATIENTS.COUNSELING TO PATIENTS.FACTFACT: THE DISPENSARIES ARE A : THE DISPENSARIES ARE A STOREFRONT FOR THE ILLEGAL STOREFRONT FOR THE ILLEGAL DISTRIBUTION OF MJ TO ANY ONE DISTRIBUTION OF MJ TO ANY ONE WHO CAN GET A REC OR WHO GETS WHO CAN GET A REC OR WHO GETS A PRIMARY CAREGIVER FORM.A PRIMARY CAREGIVER FORM.

LOTS OF ‘MEDICINE’ CHOICESLOTS OF ‘MEDICINE’ CHOICES

MYTHMYTH : A PATIENT GOES TO A DISPENSARY : A PATIENT GOES TO A DISPENSARY TO GET HIS/HER REQUIRED AMOUNT OF MJ TO GET HIS/HER REQUIRED AMOUNT OF MJ BASED ON HIS RECOMMENDATIONBASED ON HIS RECOMMENDATION

FACTFACT: THE DISPENSARY SELLS MJ, CANDY, : THE DISPENSARY SELLS MJ, CANDY, AND FOOD TO THE PERSON BASED ON AND FOOD TO THE PERSON BASED ON WHAT THEY ASK FOR WITH NO RECORD WHAT THEY ASK FOR WITH NO RECORD KEEPING OF HOW MUCH THEY HAVE KEEPING OF HOW MUCH THEY HAVE SUPPLIED AND TO WHO IT HAS BEEN SUPPLIED AND TO WHO IT HAS BEEN SUPPLIED. SUPPLIED.

Unlimited MarijuanaUnlimited Marijuana

YOU CAN GO IN DAILY TO A DISPENSARY YOU CAN GO IN DAILY TO A DISPENSARY AND BUY MJ.AND BUY MJ.

YOU CAN GO TO MULTIPLE DISPENSARIES YOU CAN GO TO MULTIPLE DISPENSARIES ON THE SAME DAYON THE SAME DAY

PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS ARE GOING PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS ARE GOING INTO THE STORES AT THE SAME TIME AND INTO THE STORES AT THE SAME TIME AND THE “PRIMARY CAREGIVERS” ARE BUYING THE “PRIMARY CAREGIVERS” ARE BUYING MJ FOR THEMSELVES AND THE PATIENTS MJ FOR THEMSELVES AND THE PATIENTS ARE ALSO BUYING MJ FOR THEMSELVES.ARE ALSO BUYING MJ FOR THEMSELVES.

WHO SUPPLIES THE WHO SUPPLIES THE DISPENSARIES?DISPENSARIES?

DISPENSARIES ARE SUPPLIED BY DISPENSARIES ARE SUPPLIED BY “VENDORS” WHICH IS A POLITICAL “VENDORS” WHICH IS A POLITICAL CODE FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN SELL CODE FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN SELL THEM MARIJUANA.THEM MARIJUANA.

DISPENSARIES ARE JUST A DISPENSARIES ARE JUST A STOREFRONT THAT ALLOWS MJ STOREFRONT THAT ALLOWS MJ DEALERS TO SELL THEIR MARIJUANA.DEALERS TO SELL THEIR MARIJUANA.

RECENT CASE – INDIVIDUAL SHOWED UP RECENT CASE – INDIVIDUAL SHOWED UP TO A DISPENSARY AS A “VENDOR” AND TO A DISPENSARY AS A “VENDOR” AND WAS IN POSSESSION OF A POUND OF MJ WAS IN POSSESSION OF A POUND OF MJ AND LOADED SEMI-AUTOMATIC HANDGUN AND LOADED SEMI-AUTOMATIC HANDGUN WITH AN EXTENDED MAGAZINE.WITH AN EXTENDED MAGAZINE.NUMEROUS DEALERS AND GROWERS NOW NUMEROUS DEALERS AND GROWERS NOW STATE THEY ARE MERELY SUPPLYING MJ STATE THEY ARE MERELY SUPPLYING MJ TO DISPENSARIES FOR “COMPASSIONATE TO DISPENSARIES FOR “COMPASSIONATE USE” AND SHOW LAW ENFORCEMENT USE” AND SHOW LAW ENFORCEMENT PRIMARY CAREGIVER FORMS AND PRIMARY CAREGIVER FORMS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO ATTEMPT TO RECOMMENDATIONS TO ATTEMPT TO AVOID PROSECUTION.AVOID PROSECUTION.

WE EVEN HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO SET WE EVEN HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO SET THEMSELVES UP AS “MOBILE” DISPENSARIES.” THEMSELVES UP AS “MOBILE” DISPENSARIES.” THESE INDIVIDUALS JUST GET THEMSELVES THESE INDIVIDUALS JUST GET THEMSELVES DESIGNATED AS A CAREGIVER FOR ANYONE DESIGNATED AS A CAREGIVER FOR ANYONE WITH A RECOMMENDATION AND THEN WITH A RECOMMENDATION AND THEN DELIVER WHATEVER MJ IS ORDERED FOR DELIVER WHATEVER MJ IS ORDERED FOR CASH.CASH.THEY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE THEY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PERSON THEY ARE “CARING” FOR OTHER PERSON THEY ARE “CARING” FOR OTHER THAN THAT THEY HAVE PAPERWORK AND THAN THAT THEY HAVE PAPERWORK AND THAT THEY HAVE CASH. THEY DO NOT KNOW THAT THEY HAVE CASH. THEY DO NOT KNOW IF THE “PATIENT” IS GETTING MJ FROM OTHER IF THE “PATIENT” IS GETTING MJ FROM OTHER SOURCES NOR DO THEY KNOW HOW MUCH SOURCES NOR DO THEY KNOW HOW MUCH THE PATIENT “NEEDS” FOR HIS/HER CARE.THE PATIENT “NEEDS” FOR HIS/HER CARE.THE OLD NAME FOR “MOBILE DISPENSARY” THE OLD NAME FOR “MOBILE DISPENSARY” WAS “NEIGHBORHOOD DRUG DEALER”. WAS “NEIGHBORHOOD DRUG DEALER”.

Where are the dispensaries?Where are the dispensaries?

Some are located near residential Some are located near residential neighborhoods and schoolsneighborhoods and schools

More are appearing every monthMore are appearing every month

In the last year and a half we went from no In the last year and a half we went from no known dispensaries to in excess of 20 known dispensaries to in excess of 20 storefronts. Not including numerous storefronts. Not including numerous “mobile dispensaries” “mobile dispensaries”

DISPENSARIES ARE ILLEGALDISPENSARIES ARE ILLEGALState law was  expanded in 2004 by a new law, State law was  expanded in 2004 by a new law, SB 420SB 420 (Health & Safety Code 11362.7-8), which  (1) authorizes (Health & Safety Code 11362.7-8), which  (1) authorizes caregivers who provide marijuana to patients to be caregivers who provide marijuana to patients to be compensated for the costs of their services, though not compensated for the costs of their services, though not on a for-profit basis; and (2)  allows patients to form on a for-profit basis; and (2)  allows patients to form cultivation "collectives" or "cooperatives."  On careful cultivation "collectives" or "cooperatives."  On careful examination; however, examination; however, neither of these provisions neither of these provisions provides a green light for sales of cannabisprovides a green light for sales of cannabis. Those . Those dispensaries that are selling marijuana over the counter dispensaries that are selling marijuana over the counter accordingly do so at the tolerance of local authorities. accordingly do so at the tolerance of local authorities.

THE ABOVE EXCERPT IS FROM THE CANORML WEB THE ABOVE EXCERPT IS FROM THE CANORML WEB SITE – THE CALIFORNIA CHAPTER OF THE SITE – THE CALIFORNIA CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION TO REFORM MARIJUANA NATIONAL ORGANIZATION TO REFORM MARIJUANA LAWS.LAWS.