60 Minutes: California's medical marijuana system in 'chaos'

[superjoint]

California's Proposition 215 legalized medical marijuana in that state 11 years ago as a treatment for pain, the side-effects of chemotherapy, and other ailments. However, the federal government still views all marijuana use as illegal, and the Supreme Court has upheld the federal Drug Enforcement Agency's right to go after dispensaries, no matter what state laws allow. In September, the DEA raided the California Healthcare Collective in Modesto and arrested the store's chief financial officer, Luke Scarmazzo. "They handcuffed me and put me on my kitchen table," Scarmazzo told 60 Minutes. "One of them ... said 'you knew I'd be coming soon.'"
Scarmazzo acknowledged that he had been earning $13,000 a month for running the dispensary but insisted "I was working a lot of hours." Scarmazzo's lawyer described his client's situation as a case of "selective prosecution," because the 26-year-old Scarmazzo is also a hiphop artist, with a widely distributed Internet video in which he appears as a high-living drug dealer, chanting "Fuck the feds."
Complicating the legal situation, California's pot shops have admittedly become an easy source of supply for people who just want to get high. According to 60 Minutes, the California law was originally intended to provide access only to the most needy, but in an attempt not to exclude any category of illness, it wound up with language so broad that it covers ever the vaguest complaint of pain. Now anyone with a note from their doctor can buy medical marijuana, and some doctors even advertise for patients in alternative papers.
One longtime supporter of medical marijuana, Methodist minister Scott Imler, says, "It's just ridiculous ...The purpose of Proposition 215 was not to create a new industry." Although the centers are supposedly collectives which buy marijuana grown by members and redistribute it, it is clear that large amounts of marijuana are also entering the system from the black market, putting money into the pockets of organized crime and terrorists.
Marijuana activist Don Duncan told 60 Minutes that "there's bound to be abuse in the system" and what is needed is better regulation. However, Scott Imler argues that effective regulation is not possible as long as the federal government refused to accept the legality of medical marijuana. Until then, "We're going to have what we have now, which is chaos."
The following video is from CBS's 60 Minutes, broadcast on December 30, 2007

[AK Infinity]

Even with this and many more negative stories like it, still do smokers refuse to wake up to the impact of their actions, still do they refuse to see what any fool can plainly see with their own eyes. Maybe the day will come when we will closely examine ourselves as a community and have the courage to address our conclusions. Make no mistake about it, simply because someone blazes doesn't mean that they are interested in the greater good.

Anyway...

Stay green.

[Retroshark]

fuck that reverend bitch.

medical marijuana is a great thing, and should not have to suffer because of the federal govt. california should break away from the US.

[AK Infinity]

Originally Posted by Retroshark

fuck that reverend bitch.

medical marijuana is a great thing, and should not have to suffer because of the federal govt. california should break away from the US.

Bro, did you even see the report?

[CaliCoast]

Originally Posted by AK Infinity

Even with this and many more negative stories like it, still do smokers refuse to wake up to the impact of their actions, still do they refuse to see what any fool can plainly see with their own eyes. Maybe the day will come when we will closely examine ourselves as a community and have the courage to address our conclusions. Make no mistake about it, simply because someone blazes doesn't mean that they are interested in the greater good.

Anyway...

Stay green.

I think I was the only blade who posted in your thread about this AK.
http://forum.grasscity.com/legalizat...pot-shops.html

What I said before really applies still so I think it's appropriate to quote what I said in the previous thread. This is a serious issue that the medical community and the general MJ community need to take action on.

Originally Posted by CaliCoast

Like you said, 60 Mins. spent minimal time on the benefits of medical MJ and highlighted its abuses. Of course they highlight the dispensary owner who is also a hip hop artist. That moron made a flamboyant video that depicted his legit dispensary and then in the same video shows a street side to things. He made himself a target in my opinion. But I still don't think that you should spend 20 years to life in federal prison for being stupid.

That guy brings the Medical MJ movement down as well as those people joking in the lobby of the docs office about what "excuse" they had for the doctor. When I went to a clinic in Santa Cruz there was none of that. The doctor I saw was very legit and straight up. I got the feeling that if I didn't have a severe condition, she wouldn't have recommended Medical MJ.

You are right when you state that the actions of the users of this wonderful plant have implications that we might not think about all the time. As a Medical MJ patient I believe that we as a whole (unfortunately) are being portrayed as casual stoners who want to get high legally. It seems that 60 Mins. thinks that only AIDS and cancer patients benefit from MJ as if they are the "real" users and the "real" pioneers of Prop. 215. But like that minister who helped pioneer Prop. 215, who was he to say what illnesses benefit from Medical MJ. They were not doctors or scientists, they were patients in need. Currently there are doctors and scientists who are continuing to find the MJ has benefits for a host of conditions. What is wrong with a patients right to relief?

What was really unfortunate was how 60 Mins. showed hidden camera footage of CBS employees acting like potential patients, like there is an underground ring of doctors that prescribe illegal drugs and 60 Mins. has penetrated this underground ring with the help of their trusty hidden cam. Like the doctor said, he can only take a potential patients statement as true. As beneficiaries of this wonderful plant, we need to always remind ourselves that we are being watched by our communities and our government so we need to act smart. Nice find.

[AK Infinity]

Originally Posted by CaliCoast

I think I was the only blade who posted in your thread about this AK.
http://forum.grasscity.com/legalizat...pot-shops.html

What I said before really applies still so I think it's appropriate to quote what I said in the previous thread. This is a serious issue that the medical community and the general MJ community need to take action on.

Thanks for posting again bro. I wish more blades would post in this section but I guess it's all about priorities.

Stay green.

[CaliCoast]

If there is a cause that I feel is worth fighting for, I will do what I can to help that cause. And MJ legalization is definitely worth fighting for IMO. I am a California NORML member and I donate money to ASA and various other organizations. As of now I can only donate money but in the future I want to take it a step further and really get on the front lines of the battle. The DEA needs to stop their strong arm tactics and realize no matter how many people they arrest or co-ops they shut down we will never lay down.

[eleven357]

If there is some way to abuse something, humans will find a way.

[AK Infinity]

Very true, but at some point, if this issue is to truly move forward smokers have to be more conscientious about their behaviors. There are legitimate patients that are in true need of marijuana as medicine, it's about goddamn time the idiots stop fucking it up for everyone else.

[eyec0n]

IMHO, the MMJ issue will never gain legitamite ground with dumb fucks like "mr buisness man" running dispenseries. You dont see Kiaser rapping about frogs pussy and carrying straps to off people do ya? Assclowns like him will keep the system down - and its people like him we should be trying to get out, the whole system is full of these little gang banger faggots its ridiculous. This guy looks like a fake ass baby bash / k-fed and the black girl in his video looks like the mom from I Love New York. I bet he goes "dumb." argh. {/endrant}