While we have all been hoping and waiting a very long time to see the headlines, “California Legalizes Marijuana“, the Nov. 2nd vote is now just a short 34 days away. I can’t begin to explain how very much I want us to blaze a new trail for the rest of the nation in correcting our backwards drug policies regarding this harmless substance. Are we not as forward thinking as the Netherlands and Portugal, who’s countries have not fallen into chaos because they legally recognized marijuana use.
As opposed to the U.S. Fed Gov, the World Health Organization agreed with marijuana legalization by stating, “On existing patterns of use, cannabis poses a much less serious public health problem than is currently posed by alcohol and tobacco in Western societies.”
I know that there are a lot of MMJ patients that are curious about how the newly legal recreational marijuana consumption by those over 21 will affect medical marijuana patients. It’s more than a little disingenuous for the Yes On 19 camp to publish, as they plainly do on their “Medical FAQ” page that absolutely no part of Prop 19 will affect the medicinal marijuana patient or collective owner. Yes, it’s true the medical marijuana patient will still have all the same legal coverage as they did before, all while lowering the burden of taxes on medical cannabis patients and dispensaries. The problem is that one can’t help but wonder what will happen to your favorite collectives after the flood-gates are opened to big business and how that might affect the current medical marijuana collective business model.
While it seems that most of the fallout from P19 is so vague, it’s exceptionally tough to address. Some broader questions are much easier ponder. 1.) Will the preponderance of medical marijuana patients who do not have seriously debilitating illness’ (patients such as myself, who use marijuana medicinally but are not currently ill) … will we no longer try to or be able to obtain medical recommendations? 2.) Will the market become inundated with marijuana business in certain socio economic areas? 3.) Will marijuana use be converted into an even bigger stick within child custody battles because of the provisions about child endangerment and adult consumption? 4.) MMJ Patient can grow “X” amount while recreational users can only grow “x” … who will grow their own marijuana? 5.) What will the Feds do? … and last, but not least, the most important question out there…Should I keep my medical marijuana recommendation current until the fed’s are done going after California for Prop 19…. YES!
