Pot Luck: Berkeley Dispensaries Now Required To Give Free Marijuana To The Poor

Discussion in 'Politics' started by Earth Ling, Jul 11, 2014.

  1. #1 Earth Ling, Jul 11, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 11, 2014
    "If you love smoking pot, live in Berkeley and don't make a lot of money, the city council has some good news for you: your pot may now be free .

    An ordinance approved by the Berkeley City Council says that at least 2 percent of all pot carried by medical marijuana dispensaries must be provided “at no cost” to “very low-income” individuals and families.

    The council defines “very low income” as individuals making $32,000 a year or less, or families of four collectively earning $46,000.

    And unlike the clichéd image of “government cheese,” the ordinance further stipulates that the free marijuana “shall be the same quality on average as Medical Cannabis that is dispensed to other members.”

    “It's sort of a cruel thing that when you are really ill and you do have a serious illness... it can be hard to work, it can be hard to maintain a job and when that happens, your finances suffer and then you can't buy the medicine you need,” said Sean Luce, who works at local collective Berkeley Patients Group, in aninterview with NBC News.

    The GPS enabled “Weed Maps” site provides a detailed list of all Berkeley-area dispensaries and delivery services. According to the information provided there, one gram of medical marijuana sells for an average of $15, while an ounce of high-grade pot can cost upwards of $400. Strains of medical pot with lower concentrations of the psychoactive element Tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly referred to at “THC,” are sold for less.

    It's well-established that getting a medical marijuana card in California is not difficult. Technically, the California Department of Public Health lists only 11 approved conditions, such as HIV-AIDS, cachexia (wasting syndrome) and cancer. But the list creates a near infinite loophole for those wanting to qualify for a pot access card by also including the qualifying stipulation of "any other chronic or persistent medical symptom that either substantially limits a person's ability to conduct one or more of major life activities as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or if not alleviated, may cause serious harm to the person's safety, physical, or mental health."

    Now, before you quit your job and move to Berkeley, keep in mind that the city only has three approved dispensaries and there's nothing in the ordinance specifying exactly how much pot they must provide to an individual.

    For example, several medical marijuana dispensaries in the city of West Hollywood, California offer free “house joints” to collective members who cannot pay the upscale prices charged by most outlets. However, the dispensaries do not advertise this voluntary policy and typically only donate a single joint per visit, per individual.

    Also, the vast majority of so-called “pot doctors” still charge a fee for both an examination and a medical marijuana card, even to low income patients. Those evaluations typically cost around $40, with additional costs for the card itself, which is good anywhere from a few months to a year.

    Berkley residents who want to qualify for the free pot must also submit a federal income tax return “or other reliable method approved by the City Manager,” in order to prove that they meet the minimal income requirements.

    But for those who can meet those requirements, Berkeley may just need to adjust its nickname to the People's Republic of Pot.

    ttps://www.yahoo.com/news/blogs/sideshow/pot-luck--berkley-dispensaries-now-required-to-give-free-marijuana-to-the-poor-170035152.html
     
  2. Holy shit. So who else wants to room up in Berkeley haha nah for real let's go nigs
     
  3. It's not bad enough that the state is already extorting them for tax money but now it is forcing businesses to give away free product? This is insane.
     
  4. does the city reimburse the dispensaries for this?
     
  5. #5 STilladelph, Jul 11, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 11, 2014
    Of course not...its called a stipulation.

    You wanna run a "medical" practice in the state then you're gonna abide by all the rules no matter how dumb.

    Idk what makes them believe that free weed for poor people will somehow inspire them to get a damn job...

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
     
  6. This is not good news at all...

    Sent from my LG-E739 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
     
  7. #7 lilro, Jul 11, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 11, 2014
     
    Agreed. This is a terrible idea. They don't make pharmacies give out free Tylenol samples. If they want to make it more accessible, they should make it be covered by health insurance. 
     
    Berkeley is already the Mecca for homeless people and this will just make it worse. I used to work at a shelter in Berkeley and know a few people personally who will abuse the fuck out of this.
     
     
    EDIT: So this is my 5,000th post. 
     
  8. I used to wonder how medical cannabis patients without money could get their meds.  We all know the profiteering off of this plant. You can tell who is  in it for the money and who actually cares
     
  9. Shouldn't it fall under Medicare or obamacare then?

    Sent from my LG-E739 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
     
  10. Everybody is in it for the money to some extent, businesses require money to run. And business owners do generally like to make a little profit for their time and stress involved.
     
    Nothing says charitable like a new government regulation :D
     
  11.  
    Shit I'm down.  Just call me son.
     
  12. So what keeps people from getting this 'free' weed and then selling it on the street at a mark-down, thus ALWAYS beating dispensary prices. This can only hurt business, will lead to an entitlment effect among recipents, and create a window for unfair competition with the same dispensaries that are subject to this law.
     
    Horrible fucking idea.
     
  13. I think they're idea of poor is a lil skewed seeing as you could make $15 an hour (double the minimum wage) and still qualify in Berkley as poor.. but it's not a bad idea overall to me. I want to be a business owner with a touch of philanthropy, which is kind of like what this is. 2% isn't a big deal, and it's not like someone is going to walk in there, get an ounce for free, then go sell it. That 2% isn't really going to go far, and it seems open ended on how the shops have to give it out. It'll probably be their choice on how they disperse their 2%, and would more than likely do it in small amounts at a time. They didn't specify, but I doubt they'll allow someone without an established medical condition sign up for free weed either.. seeing as this bill is aimed at helping people with medical conditions who can't afford it.
     
    Plus, City Council typically gets the city in on decisions being made. It's not really "the state", more like "the people of the city" who made this happen.
     
  14. Marijuana welfare.
     
  15. I have a friend with liver cancer, my mom has issues and my friend mom has issues all old as hell. My best friends wife has cancer.
     
    I give them all weed for free, they don't pay a thing. My best friend buys seeds and equipment, I pay the power bill and do the the growing and technical side of things.
     
    It is a labor of love, not a profit business.
     
    More people should do it, Im legal and will grow medicine no matter what.
     
    Good for Berkley. :)
     
  16.  
    Cool bro.  Best to every person yer helping.
     
  17.  
    Paying it forward, The day I am old and going down I hope somebody will do the same for me.
     
  18. I agree that medical marijuana should be covered by insurance.  I've also learned that I'm a very low income individual.  Thats a bit depressing.
     
  19. Voluntarily helping people is a good thing. Forced "charity" is not.
     
  20. Gotta luv Berkley.
     

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