What is it about medical marijuana that makes it such a volatile topic? Why are the identical states that initially decriminalized the sale of cannabis to physician approved sufferers now attempting to impose so numerous restrictions? For supporters of complete-scale legalization and the organizations which sell the item, there appears to be a constant dance in between what is allowed and what isn’t.
Soon after California decriminalized the sale of medical marijuana nearly 800 storefronts opened below the guise of becoming dispensaries. In May perhaps of 2010 the owners of 439 of them had been told to close by June 7 in order to comply with ordinances. Distance from areas in which children congregate, such as schools and parks as properly as registration deadlines that were exceeded have been cited as causes for the closures.
The next step involved a citywide lottery for the remaining dispensaries. Only collectives and dispensaries which had been in operation from Sept. 14, 2007 and have retained at least one particular original owner certified for the lottery. LA has since informed the owners of 140 other retailers they should close their doors as nicely, leaving the city 100 dispensaries.
How did things change so considerably, even as California debates collecting sales tax from healthcare marijuana dispensaries and increasing cooperatives?
New Mexico: No Measure However
Governor Susana Martinez – R, produced an problem of repealing the health-related marijuana legislation in New Mexico, and has tried to bring a measure to the voters this year to do so. This position follows party lines. Nonetheless, Rep. James Smith – R, the bill’s sponsor pulled the bill, replacing it with Residence Memorial 53 for a Department of Well being effect study of health-related marijuana acts. For now residents of New Mexico will nevertheless be in a position to obtain healthcare marijuana legally.
Organization Restrictions
Even even though health-related marijuana dispensaries have been decriminalized, it hasn’t brought them any closer to a option relating to their organization transactions. Unless the dispensary is willing to function on a “money only” basis, it may well have difficulty acquiring needed industrial accounts, merchant accounts and insurance coverage. Creatively worded applications citing the sale of “supplements” and “wellness care accessories” are being red flagged.
Banks and other financial institutions are in a quandary as properly. This is a potentially massive market place, but with fears about federal prosecution over drug connected crimes, getting needed accounts can be specifically challenging.
A single clear point is emerging from this small waltz: requirements need to be set not only relating to who has legal jurisdiction more than the sale of marijuana for medical purposes, but regardless of whether or not businesses doing company with the actual purveyors will be protected from unjust reprisals.