Macc

[Restorium2]

To be able to grow the dispensaries have a lot of strict rules to adhere by. It would seem they couldn't actually follow all those rules and produce enough to keep it stocked by themselves unless they had a large cash flow to begin with. The start up cost on this would be huge.

Large cash flow to begin with? They have all they need, that goes without saying. If this flies they will grow it all themselves. But you have to add they would have the right to, and they could help a lot of patients, just not with their overages.

[Northern Lab]

Large cash flow to begin with? They have all they need, that goes without saying. If this flies they will grow it all themselves. But you have to add they would have the right to, and they could help a lot of patients, just not with their overages.

 

Like I mentioned earlier, from a business perspective, it would be foolish to obtain your entire stock from one grow. Diversifying your supply network would be necessary to provide variety of products, and insure a constant supply of high quality meds.

 

This is the language that confused me. I thought you were implying that this document was a fresh copy of the bill that had been leaked to Joe. In fact, it was emailed directly to him six months ago and reposted on this site with his approval.

 

I really don't think we should exert too much effort on this bill. It will be very challenged, politically. Focusing on the 26% that will stop the other bills is key. Our job is to find those people and get commitments from them.

 

Agreed.

[Restorium2]

This is the language that confused me. I thought you were implying that this document was a fresh copy of the bill that had been leaked to Joe. In fact, it was emailed directly to him six months ago and reposted on this site with his approval.

 

I really don't think we should exert too much effort on this bill. It will be very challenged, politically. Focusing on the 26% that will stop the other bills is key. Our job is to find those people and get commitments from them.

I heard it was a leak. The source may have been in error on that because they said something different after I had already posted the above.

 

The 26% is the most important thing right now as Michael pointed out here.

 

Dispensaries effect patients directly and all of us patients would like to stay up to date on them. They are more than just interesting. What is important is to know them as they are potentially going to be if their bill passes. I think some patients might still think they will help them sell their overages and the legislature already said that was way too complicated legally to fly.

[restlesslegs]

Wow no one can say anything on this forum anymore without someone picking it apart.

 

I agree if this isn't done, if this isn't what is going to the committee or whatever then it is meaningless to discuss this until we do see the final bill.

[jamieuke]

So this is not the bill that is going forth now? If that is the case then why are we even discussing this?

 

Exactly. There is no more coherent discussion that can be had until we can read the final draft. No one, not even MACC has it. Otherwise, read the previous responses, and garner what you can.

 

In the mean time, focus on the 26% project. It is real and of immediate concern. Thanks to all who have devoted time and energy to the 26% project, and keep it up!

[Restorium2]

Exactly. There is no more coherent discussion that can be had until we can read the final draft. No one, not even MACC has it. Otherwise, read the previous responses, and garner what you can.

 

In the mean time, focus on the 26% project. It is real and of immediate concern. Thanks to all who have devoted time and energy to the 26% project, and keep it up!

I asked for what you submitted. That is all. You do have that draft. You are correct in saying that we do not know what the work groups have come up with, of course.

[Northern Lab]

We didn't see the MPP legislation until it was ready to be submitted, IIRC.

[maxmax]

Will there be dispensaries that grow all of their own product? Eventually, yes. I think there will also be facilities that grow some of their own, and outsource the rest to patients and caregivers. I think the latter model will dominate in most areas. It would be foolish to rely on a single source, sets you up for all sorts of supply issues if something happens.

 

As an aside, I don't know what 'conservative' means anymore. It would seem that a 'conservative' would support the idea of a distributed supply network that spread the commerce by allowing small time entrepreneurs to participate.

 

 

 

Not a setup at all. This bill clearly states that:

 

 

You would have to prove to the purchaser that you are allowed to possess the amount you're bringing in. If you cannot, they cannot buy it from you.

If you cannot, they cannot buy it from you. and who would be watching that?

[Northern Lab]

If you cannot, they cannot buy it from you. and who would be watching that?

 

The onus is on the dispensary to make sure the transaction is within the prescribed guidelines, according to the old MPP bill.

[LongHairBri]

MACC Draft Local Control Legislation

 

 

Sec. 1. Definitions.

 

(a) “Dispensary” means an entity located in Michigan that acquires, possesses, cultivates, manufactures, delivers, transfers, and/or transports marihuana and sells, supplies, and/or dispenses marihuana to registered qualifying patients, directly or through their registered primary caregivers. “Dispensary” includes any commercial property where marihuana is sold to qualifying patients and their registered primary caregivers.

 

(b) “Dispensary agent” means a principal officer, board member, employee, operator, or agent of a dispensary who is 21 years of age or older and has not been convicted of an excluded felony offense. Any agent who is a principal officer, board member, or operator must have maintained two years of residency in the State of Michigan.

 

© “Department” means the department of licensing and regulatory affairs or its successor agency.

 

(d) “Excluded felony offense” means a felony involving illegal drugs. It does not include a conviction for activity allowed under state law under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act or this chapter, even if the activity occurred prior to the enactment of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act and/or this chapter.

 

(e) “Registered qualifying patient” means a person who:

(1) has been issued a valid qualifying patient registry identification card pursuant to MCL 333.26426 (a) or (b); or

(2) satisfies the criteria listed in MCL 333.26429 (b) or © and possesses the documentation that those sections deem a valid registry identification card.

 

(f) “Registered primary caregiver” means a person who:

(1) is at least 21 years old; and

(2) has agreed to assist with a patient's medical use of marihuana; and

(3) has never been convicted of a felony involving illegal drugs; and

(4) has been issued a valid, unexpired registry identification card pursuant to MCL 333.26426 (d); or

(5) satisfies the criteria listed in MCL 333.26429 (b) or © and possesses the documentation that those sections deem a valid registry identification card.

 

(g) “Safety compliance facility” means an entity that tests marihuana produced for medical use for contaminants and/or potency.

 

(h) “Safety compliance facility agent” means a principal officer, board member, employee, operator, or agent of a safety compliance facility who is 21 years of age or older and has not been convicted of an excluded felony offense. Any agent who is a principal officer, board member, or operator must have maintained two years of residency in the State of Michigan.

 

(i) “Seedling” means a marihuana plant that has no flowers, is less than 12 inches in height, and is less than 12 inches in diameter.

 

(j) “Secure cultivation facility” means a commercial building or location in a commercial building equipped with locks or other security devices to prevent unauthorized entry. A secure cultivation facility must allow access only by:

(1) registered primary caregivers or dispensary agents of the dispensary that controls the secure cultivation facility;

(2) municipal employees performing inspections, if inspections are authorized by municipal law;

(3) emergency personnel while responding to an emergency;

(4) if accompanied by an agent of the dispensary, and by permission or request of the dispensary, members of the media or government officials;

(5) if accompanied by an agent of the dispensary, registered qualifying patients and registered primary caregivers; and

(6) if accompanied by an agent of the dispensary, contractors who are not engaged in the dispensary’s cultivation, distribution, or possession of marihuana.

 

(k) “Usable marihuana” means the completely dried leaves and flowers of the marihuana plant but does not include the seeds, stalks, leaves and roots of the plant. Any cooking mixture or preparation used to prepare marihuana infused ingestible or topical products shall not be included as “usable marihuana” so long as the ingestible or topical product has the amount of actual plant material used in its preparation clearly marked on its packaging.

 

(l) "Visiting qualifying patient" means a patient who is not a resident of this state or who has been a resident of this state for less than 30 days and who possesses a registry identification card, or its equivalent, that was issued under the laws of another state, district, territory, commonwealth, or insular possession of the United States that allows the medical use of marihuana by the patient.

 

Sec. 2. Dispensaries and Safety Compliance Facilities Exempt From State Civil and Criminal Penalties.

 

(a) Except as provided in this act, a dispensary that has been granted a municipal registration or license, or that is otherwise allowed by municipal law, and the dispensary’s dispensary agents acting on its behalf shall not be subject to criminal penalties under any state law; state or local prosecution; search or inspection, except for inspections authorized by the municipality that registered or allowed the dispensary; seizure; or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or privilege, including but not limited to civil penalty or disciplinary action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau for:

(1) purchasing or receiving marihuana seeds from visiting qualifying patients, registered qualifying patients, registered primary caregivers, or dispensaries;

(2) purchasing or receiving marihuana, including seedlings, from one or more other dispensaries if purchasing or receiving marihuana from the dispensary is allowed by the municipality where the dispensary is located;

(3) purchasing or receiving marihuana from registered qualifying patients and/or registered primary caregivers if purchasing or receiving marihuana from registered qualifying patients and registered primary caregivers is allowed by the municipality where the dispensary is located, and if the amount purchased does not exceed the registered qualifying patient or registered primary caregiver’s possession limits;

(4) cultivating or manufacturing marihuana in a secure cultivation facility, except that seedlings need not be in a secure cultivation facility when they are transported;

(5) possessing and/or manufacturing marihuana paraphernalia;

(6) possessing and/or processing marihuana produced by the dispensary or obtained pursuant to Sec. 2(a) (1) or (2) on the dispensary premises, at a secure cultivation facility, or while the marihuana is being transported pursuant to this section;

(7) if allowed under municipal law, transporting marihuana, including seedlings, between the dispensary and another dispensary, the dispensary and a secured cultivation facility, or the dispensary and a safety compliance facility;

(8) transporting or delivering marihuana and/or paraphernalia to the residence of a registered qualifying patient or a registered primary caregiver if delivery is allowed by the municipality or municipalities where the delivery and transportation occurs; or

(9) supplying, selling, dispensing, transferring, or delivering marihuana, paraphernalia, or related supplies and educational materials in accordance with the procedures and limitations detailed in Sec. 3 (l) and (m), except that marihuana may only be transferred from one dispensary to another dispensary if the municipality where the dispensary making the transfer is located allows the transfer of marihuana between dispensaries.

 

(b) Except as provided in this act, a safety compliance facility that has been granted a municipal registration or license, or that is otherwise allowed by municipal law, shall not be subject to criminal penalties under any state law; state or local prosecution; search or inspection, except for inspections authorized by the municipality that registered the safety compliance facility; seizure; or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or privilege, including but not limited to civil penalty or disciplinary action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau for:

(1) acquiring or possessing marihuana obtained from registered qualifying patients, registered primary caregivers, or dispensaries;

(2) returning the marihuana to the registered qualifying patients, registered primary caregivers, or dispensaries who delivered the marihuana to the safety compliance facility;

(3) transporting marihuana to or from registered qualifying patients, registered primary caregivers, and/or dispensaries;

(4) possessing marihuana on the safety compliance facility’s premises for testing, provided that the marihuana was obtained pursuant to Sec. 2 (b) (1) or (2); and

(5) receiving compensation for actions allowed under state law by this section and municipal law.

 

© A municipality may prohibit the operation of dispensaries and/or safety compliance facilities within the municipality. A dispensary is not exempt from state criminal and civil penalties if it operates in a municipality that prohibits dispensaries. A safety compliance facility is not exempt from state criminal and civil penalties if it operates in a municipality that prohibits safety compliance facilities.

 

(d) If the municipality requires a registration or license for a dispensary or safety compliance facility, the dispensary or safety compliance facility is only exempt from criminal penalties if it holds a license or registration.

 

(e) A municipality may enact an ordinance allowing dispensaries and/or safety compliance facilities under local law. A municipality may issue registrations or licenses to dispensaries and/or safety compliance facilities and may regulate their operations and impose civil or criminal penalties for the violations of the local ordinances.

 

(f) The actions exempt from arrest and criminal penalties by this section are allowed under state law to the extent that they are carried out in accordance with the provisions of this act.

 

(g) All other acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act, such as the Public Health Code and Vehicle Code, do not apply to activities related to medical marihuana as provided for by this act.

 

Sec. 3 Requirements, Prohibitions, Penalties, and Limitations.

 

(a) Except as explicitly allowed by a municipal ordinance predating the effective date of this act, the following may not be located within 500 feet of the property line of a licensed pre-existing primary or secondary school:

(1) a dispensary;

(2) a secure cultivation facility; and

(3) a safety compliance facility.

 

(b) Each secure cultivation facility must be located on commercial, not residential, property.

 

© A dispensary may not share office space with a physician.

 

(d) Each dispensary location and secure cultivation facility must have a security alarm system enabled whenever dispensary agents are not present.

 

(e) Any marihuana infused products sold, transferred, or dispensed by a dispensary must be labeled with the weight of marihuana contained and with the following text or text substantially similar to it: “WARNING: This product contains marihuana. For qualifying patients’ medical use only.”

 

(f) The sale of marihuana may not be advertised on billboards, television, or radio. The department may develop additional rules restricting advertising for marihuana sales. The rules shall not prevent appropriate signs on the property of the dispensary, websites for the dispensary or registered primary caregiver, listings in business directories including phone books, listings in trade or medical print or online publications, or the sponsorship of health or not-for-profit charity or advocacy events.

 

(g) A dispensary or safety compliance facility shall not knowingly employ an agent with an excluded felony offense or who is under 21 years of age. A dispensary or safety compliance facility must perform a background check on each agent before he or she is offered employment to verify that he or she does not have a conviction for an excluded felony offense.

 

(h) Each dispensary must maintain records listing all agents for the dispensary, along with the date on which they began working for the dispensary, and the date a background check was performed.

 

(i) A dispensary shall not allow on-site consumption of marihuana.

 

(j) A dispensary shall not dispense more than 2.5 ounces of useable marihuana to a registered qualifying patient directly or through his or her primary caregiver.

 

(k) Dispensaries shall ensure compliance with the dispensing limits by maintaining internal, confidential records that include records specifying how much marihuana is being dispensed to the registered qualifying patients and registered primary caregivers and whether it was dispensed directly to the registered qualifying patient or to the primary caregiver. Each entry must include the quantity of marihuana sold and the date and time the marihuana was dispensed. Entries must be maintained for at least 90 days. For any registered qualifying patients in possession of registry identification cards, records must be kept using identification numbers instead of names. Dispensing records shall be subject to reasonable inspection by employees authorized to regulate dispensaries under municipal law to ensure compliance with this chapter, but may be stored off-site.

 

(l) A dispensary agent shall not knowingly dispense, transfer, or sell marihuana to a person knowing that the person is not a registered qualifying patient, registered primary caregiver, or dispensary agent working on behalf of a dispensary that is allowed to operate and obtain marihuana from other dispensaries under municipal law.

 

(m) Before marihuana may be dispensed or sold from a dispensary, a dispensary agent must:

(1) verify that the person requesting marihuana holds what the dispensary agent reasonably believes to be an unexpired primary caregiver or a qualifying patient registry identification card; or

(2) verify that (i) the person requesting marihuana certifies that he or she is a qualifying patient who submitted a valid, complete application for a registered qualifying patient identification card at least 20 days earlier, (ii) the person requesting marihuana certifies that to the best of his or her knowledge, the state has not denied the application or issued a registry identification card, (iii) the person requesting marihuana presents a copy of a completed registered qualifying patient application and proof of receipt of the mailing by the state department that processes medical marihuana applications from at least 20 days prior; or

(3) make a diligent, good faith effort to verify that the person is a dispensary agent for a dispensary that is allowed to operate by a municipality; and

(4) make a diligent, good faith effort to determine that the person named in the registry identification card or other documentation is the person seeking to obtain marihuana, by examining what the dispensary agent reasonably believes to be valid government-issued photo identification.

 

(n) No person who is under 21 years of age or who has been convicted of an excluded felony offense may be a dispensary or safety compliance facility agent.

 

(o) A dispensary agent shall not refer patients to a physician to obtain a written certification for monetary compensation.

 

(p) A physician shall not advertise in a dispensary, or, if the physician issues written certifications, refer patients to a dispensary or registered primary caregiver, or hold any financial interest in or receive any compensation from a dispensary or secure cultivation facility.

 

(q) A dispensary or safety compliance facility agent may not transport or possess marihuana on behalf of the dispensary or safety compliance facility in or upon a motor vehicle or any self-propelled vehicle designed for land travel unless:

(1) the agent possesses a document signed and dated by a manager or operator of the dispensary or safety compliance facility that employs the agent, stating the agent’s name, the date the marihuana will be transported, the approximate amount of marihuana transported, and the name of the dispensary or safety compliance facility where the marihuana is being transported; and

(2) the medical marihuana is one or more of the following:

(i) enclosed in a locked container, such as a safe, briefcase, or other case;

(ii) carried in the trunk of the vehicle; or

(iii) inaccessible from the interior of the vehicle.

 

® Any dispensary that violates subsections Sec. 3 (a) to © is responsible for a civil infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000. Any city or county where the dispensary operates in violation of Sec. 3 (a), (b), or © may file for an injunction to close down the dispensary.

 

(s) The penalty for a violation of subsections Sec. 3 (d) to (k) is a civil infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, payable by the dispensary.

 

(t) Any person who transfers marihuana in violation of Sec. 3 (l) or (m) or works at a dispensary in violation of Sec. 3 (n) is not exempt from arrest, prosecution, or criminal or other penalties under Sec. 2.

 

(u) Any person who violates Sec. 3 (o) or (p) is guilty of a civil infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.

 

(u) Any person who violates Sec. 3 (q) is guilty of a misdemeanor and punishable by not more than 30 days in jail and/or a fine of not more than $500.

 

(v) Municipalities are encouraged to establish procedures to suspend or revoke a registration, license, or other permission to operate if a dispensary knowingly or negligently allows marihuana to be dispensed to a person who is not a registered qualified patient or registered primary caregiver or if a dispensary or safety compliance facility commits multiple or serious violations of this act or municipal regulations.

 

(w) Nothing in this law requires the violation of federal law or purports to give immunity under federal law.

 

(x) Nothing in this law poses an obstacle to federal enforcement of federal law. Local units of government are prohibited from using federal law in forming or enforcing any restrictions on the medical use of marijuana.

 

Sec. 4. Qualifying Patient and Primary Caregiver Protections.

 

(a) Except as provided in this act, a visiting qualifying patient, registered qualifying patient, or registered primary caregiver shall not be subject to criminal penalties under any state law; state or local prosecution; search or inspection; seizure; or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or privilege, including but not limited to civil penalty or disciplinary action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau for supplying, selling, transferring, or delivering marihuana seeds to a dispensary that is registered, licensed, or otherwise allowed by the municipality in which it operates.

 

(b) Except as provided in this act, a registered qualifying patient shall not be subject to criminal penalties under any state law; state or local prosecution; search or inspection; seizure; or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or privilege, including but not limited to civil penalty or disciplinary action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau for:

(1) purchasing or acquiring not more than 2.5 ounces of usable marihuana from a dispensary; and/or

(2) supplying, selling, transferring, or delivering marihuana to a dispensary that is registered, licensed, or otherwise allowed by the municipality in which it operates if:

(i) the marihuana was produced by the registered qualifying patient or registered primary caregiver;

(ii) the municipality in which the dispensary operates allows the transfer of marihuana from a registered qualifying patient to a dispensary; and

(iii) the amount of marihuana transferred does not exceed the amount of marihuana the registered qualifying patient is allowed to possess.

 

© Except as provided in this act, a registered primary caregiver shall not be subject to criminal penalties under any state law; state or local prosecution; search or inspection; seizure; or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or privilege, including but not limited to civil penalty or disciplinary action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau for:

(1) purchasing or acquiring from dispensaries not more than 2.5 ounces of usable marihuana per registered qualifying patient that has designated the registered primary caregiver on his or her application to the state department administering the medical marihuana program; and/ or

(2) supplying, selling, transferring, or delivering marihuana to a dispensary that is registered, licensed, or otherwise allowed by the municipality in which it operates if:

(i) the marihuana was produced by the registered primary caregiver and was excess marihuana above the amount necessary to satisfy the registered qualifying patients the primary caregiver was designated to serve; and

(ii) the municipality in which the dispensary operates allows the transfer of marihuana from a registered primary caregiver to a dispensary; and

(iii) the amount of marihuana transferred does not exceed the amount of marihuana the registered primary caregiver is allowed to possess.

[maxmax]

i think it is on the post already under the macs

[LongHairBri]

yeah, I see that now. sorry

[babytwar]

Didn't read word for word but what I'm getting is that transfers will only be allowed in "medical marijuana facilities" so what does that mean for the everyday caregiver just growing for a couple people and not trying to supply a despensery?

 

I see in some townships (Springfield) they offer actual licenses for co-ops and despenseries. $25,000 a year for a license that lets you run a dispensary that can serve 101+ patients. My buddy who owns a place out there said even regular caregivers have to get licensed for how many plants and patients they'll be helping or run the risk of local LEO making a bust.

 

(That specific township has a license for $40,000 a year to grow up to 2000 plants WTF lol)

[Timmahh]

i ll merge them

[Restorium2]

This directly effects how the legislature acts when it considers the dispensary bill:

 

US Attorney Explains His Stance On Pot Dispensaries‏

Newshawk: Herb

Pubdate: Fri, 06 Apr 2012

Source: Call, The (Woonsocket, RI)

Copyright: 2012 The Call.

Contact: news@woonsocketcall.com

Website: http://www.woonsocketcall.com/

Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2394

Author: Jim Baron

 

U.S. ATTORNEY EXPLAINS HIS STANCE ON POT DISPENSARIES

 

WOONSOCKET -- Sometimes painted as the Molly Hatchet of the Rhode

Island medical marijuana movement, putting the axe to the state's

three proposed compassion centers before they had a chance to open,

U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha says he just wants to make sure everyone

knows where his office stands on the issue so there will be "no

surprises" when, and if, a dispensary opens up.

 

Gov. Lincoln Chafee put the licensing of three compassion centers that

had gone through two lengthy Department of Health application

processes on hold after receiving a letter from Neronha saying the

centers could be subject to raids and their employees subject to

prosecution.

 

Now lawmakers, working with Chafee, have reworked compassion center

legislation but Neronha said nobody has discussed the proposed measure

with him. He is making no promises about the acceptability of the new

plan.

 

"We don't have an issue with individuals who are sick, cancer patients

who are really truly sick, and we don't have an issue with their

individual caregivers," Neronha explained on a recent visit to The

Call office. "What the department does take issue with are commercial,

large-scale marijuana enterprises and certainly the three dispensaries

proposed in Rhode Island were, in my view, large-scale, commercial,

for-profit enterprises. Nothing in this legislation has changed." <--Obama Position

 

Citing the applications made by owners of one of the proposed

facilities, the Summit Medical Compassion Center in Warwick, it would

start by employing 45 people and that by its third year of operation

it expected to have 80 people on staff plus 12 security guards.

Although the operation would be required to be non-profit, it expected

to lose $844,000 in the first year but by the second year would take

in $13 million, $7.8 million of that above expenses. There were even

rosier projections for the third year: $23.4 in revenue, $16.5 beyond

what its owners expected to spend.

 

By the third year, the developers anticipated having about 8,000

patients under their care, which, under the law, would have allowed

them to grow 96,000 marijuana plants.

 

"I can not ignore a 96,000 plant facility," Neronha said. "That's not

a small, individual, non-profit grow. That is an industrial grow facility.

 

"The issue for us is not if it is legal or illegal, it is clearly

illegal under federal law," he said. "The question is, how should we

use our federal resources? We're not going to use them on the ill

patient who has cancer and believes that this is helping. But we are

definitely going to use them on 96,000-plant grows. Things of this

magnitude can not go unnoticed."

 

Neronha likened it to a police officer who sees a car go by at 65 or

70 m.p.h. when the speed limit is 55, and might let it go. But when

the next car goes by at 105 m.p.h., "the lights are going to go on and

it is going to get pulled over."

 

So how much marijuana is too much for a U.S. Attorney to

abide?

 

Neronha won't say.

 

"You are asking me to say, for something that is illegal, how illegal

does it have to be. I'm not comfortable answering that question," was

his answer. "While I understand the question, and I understand why

people want to know, I can't answer the question."

 

The problem is, medical marijuana patients make the point that they

are using the drug as medicine and therefore need a reliable,

year-long supply. If a patient must rely on an individual caregiver to

supply his or her medicine and that person is hit with an extended

power outage or some other problem, such as insects, that can ruin an

entire crop, the patient may be forced to go several months without

medicine. That is one of the reasons that the patients championed the

compassion center concept.

 

But Neronha balked at the idea of helping craft acceptable

legislation.

 

"Last year, looking at it objectively and fairly, my position probably

caught some people unawares," he acknowledged. "I'm not sure why it

did, but I can see why it might have.

 

"What concerns me this time around is that when I read in the press

that there has been a compromise, I'm not a party to that compromise.

Nobody reached out to me and asked me. I'm certainly not going to go

up and testify about state legislation. Department policy doesn't

allow me to do it and it is not something I am going to do. Certainly,

if someone were to ask me specifically what my thoughts are, I would

tell them. But it is really not the job of a federal prosecutor to

weigh in on state policy except to remind people of what federal law

is and what the options are. I want to make sure going into this

process that there isn't any confusion to what our position is. I just

don't want anybody to be surprised if we take action should these

things open."

 

Neronha suggested that the presence of medical marijuana dispensaries

tend to greatly increase the number of patients who find a need for

them. He cited Montana as an example, saying its population of right

around 1 million people is similar to Rhode Island's. When

dispensaries opened in that state, he said, the number of medical

marijuana cardholders exploded from 3,000 to 30,000. The Montana

legislature eventually repealed the dispensary law.

 

Pointing to a statistic that there are 42 medical marijuana

cardholders for every 100,000 Rhode Islanders without the compassion

centers while Maine, which does have the facilities operating has only

20 cardholders per 100,000 -- that tells me there is an appetite for

marijuana that does not exist in Maine."

 

"Once the cork is out of the bottle, it is very hard to put it back

in," Neronha said. "That is my concern; that it is going to be very

hard to undo the damage once it happens. And I have to tell you, if

there is damage, it won't be damage that the federal government will

be dealing with.

 

"If there is an explosion of marijuana use as a result of these

dispensaries, which I think there is every indication that there will

be, by that I mean improper use of it -- people driving under the

influence of marijuana, the marijuana found in schools, the marijuana

being used by people who shouldn't be using it, those are not going to

be federal enforcement problems, those are going to be state and local

problems. I feel it is important with respect to these dispensaries

that we make our views clear in advance to what the possibilities are.

We'll have to wait and see if they do open as to what our response

will be."

__________________________________________________________________________

Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in

receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

---

MAP posted-by: Matt

[restlesslegs]

FlowerGirl and Jamie.

 

FlowerGirl had said she would provide us with a copy I think? She is Robin right? So she has been working on this all along, wonder if she would actually answer some of these questions we have.

[Restorium2]

FlowerGirl had said she would provide us with a copy I think? She is Robin right? So she has been working on this all along, wonder if she would actually answer some of these questions we have.

No, she basically said, "Tough Luck, F off". Go back and read it.

[Restorium2]

Here's her quote;

 

NO you cannot see the draft, its not finnished yet and any draft that anyone says they have is an old draft anyway. Sorry about your luck. If you would like please feel free to write your own bill and find a sponsor then you can see as many drafts as you like. Have a nice day.

[restlesslegs]

Here's her quote;

 

 

[Northern Lab]

Perfectly reasonable explanation if you ask me.

 

Maybe not couched in the most diplomatic way, but some people tend to bring that out in other posters here...

[Timmahh]

This directly effects how the legislature acts when it considers the dispensary bill:

 

US Attorney Explains His Stance On Pot Dispensaries‏

Newshawk: Herb

Pubdate: Fri, 06 Apr 2012

Source: Call, The (Woonsocket, RI)

Copyright: 2012 The Call.

Contact: news@woonsocketcall.com

Website: http://www.woonsocketcall.com/

Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2394

Author: Jim Baron

 

U.S. ATTORNEY EXPLAINS HIS STANCE ON POT DISPENSARIES

 

WOONSOCKET -- Sometimes painted as the Molly Hatchet of the Rhode

Island medical marijuana movement, putting the axe to the state's

three proposed compassion centers before they had a chance to open,

U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha says he just wants to make sure everyone

knows where his office stands on the issue so there will be "no

surprises" when, and if, a dispensary opens up.

 

Gov. Lincoln Chafee put the licensing of three compassion centers that

had gone through two lengthy Department of Health application

processes on hold after receiving a letter from Neronha saying the

centers could be subject to raids and their employees subject to

prosecution.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

---

MAP posted-by: Matt

 

Exactly why our Pt/CG system with all transfers within limits of course, being acceptable and authorized per our Act was and will work...

 

Maine and RI have both been looking at Michigans Pt/CG system as a way to improve thier Acts for the use and transfer of Medical Cannabis. But Instead of being Leaders in the Country as Michigan usually is, Bill Schuette, Rick Snyder, and the Current Republican Guard would rather put its Citizens in the new Prison Industrial Complex they want to build. Medical Prosecution is NOT OK.

 

It would be nice to see these Republican and some Democratic Government Officials pull their heads out of their proverbial Kiesters, and start to be a Leader of the Citizens, like a Conservative Republican is supposed to be.

 

But we have these new era Republicans that think Corporations have souls and deserve a few thousands votes over our 1.

[restlesslegs]

Perfectly reasonable explanation if you ask me.

 

Maybe not couched in the most diplomatic way, but some people tend to bring that out in other posters here...

 

Well that is true but I've seen her fly off the handle a few times and it was uncalled for. She told me once if I called her she would discuss it but since then she jumped down my throat a few times so I didn't think she would react too kindly if I called her.

[cujo]

I'm not saying you're wrong here, because I know very little about the intent of all these advocacy groups. I'm just doubtful that dispensary owners would want to scrap the CG system. Diverse sources of meds are integral to offering your patients wide choices in products, strains, and price.

 

It would be foolish and a large magnet for federal attention if we went with large, dedicated grows and kitchens that supply dispensaries.

they want all the money. duh... just watch. corporate farm with a gov. deal. outlawing homegrown would be great for them the same way it would be great for organized crime. and after they get the deal the drug companies will pay them off to make sure it doesn't heal anything and won't pass med. trials.

[bobandtorey]

they want all the money. duh... just watch. corporate farm with a gov. deal. outlawing homegrown would be great for them the same way it would be great for organized crime. and after they get the deal the drug companies will pay them off to make sure it doesn't heal anything and won't pass med. trials.

 

just like the Law in D.C if you get caught with meds that you have not gotten from their store(with their package) you will be in court

[cujo]

My idea of legal marijuana is being able to grow it next to my tomato plants

i agree but it's never going to happen imho

sorry

really/ cause that's what I did before I got legal. and if they outlaw it again. then I will be an outlaw. and I put patients first over anything now that we have been given the cure for cancer. so they'll want to ban me too. cause we all have to have the same views or something.