Gregory Akerman

Thoughts On Medical Marijuana- Should It Exist or Should It Be Completely Ilegal?



Posted: Saturday, February 07, 2009

by Gregory Akerman
Silver Discount Properties, LLC

After writing my Michael Phelps Smoking Marijuana article, I had some thoughts about Medical Marijuana that I wanted to share and I want to see where people on this site stand on the issue.

In California, Medical Marijuana is legal. I live in Southern California, specifically the San Fernando Valley, and from what I've seen; The San Fernando Valley is the Capital of the World for Marijuana. Some might say Amsterdam is, but in reality it's not. It's cheaper in Amsterdam, and it's legal. However, in The San Fernando Valley, which I will refer to as the Valley from now on, has many Medical Marijuana Stores, commonly called Cannibus Clubs. The shere quality of Marijuana here in the Valley, is much, much better than that of the quality in Amsterdam. I know countless people that use Medical Marijuana and get it from stores in the Valley; They went to Amsterdam and every single person stated that the quality of the weed is better in the Valley by far.

So how do you get Medical Marijuana?

First, it's a complicated issue in general. Medical Marijuana is legal in California, but ilegal federally. The reality of the situation is that you won't get into legal trouble from the State or California and any law enforcement agency based in California if your a Medical Marijuana Patient and have Marijuana with you; as long as you follow the rules (you cannot resell Medical Marijuana, for example). However, Federal Agents can arrest you. Now, to get Medical Marijuana you need a doctors recommendation. I'm not too sure if any doctor can recommend Marijuana for you, but there are a list of Doctors you can find that specifically deal in examining a patient and recommending Marijuana. Now, I keep using the word recommend. That is because the doctor is not prescribing you Marijuana; it's not a prescribtion. It's a paper that states that the doctor recommends you use Marijuana to deal with your health problem(s). In reality, it's a rather corrupt system. From what I hear, all you reallty have to do is have the $100-$150, find one of these doctors, come in, complain that you have anxiety issues and that smoking marijuana helps you, and you'll most likely come out with a Doctor's recommendation. It's usually valid for one year, than you have to renew your recommendation.

Access to Marijuana.

Once you have your recommendation, you have to find a Cannibus Club; which is a store that sells Marijuana. You can search online and not only find these stores, you can search and find the best ones with the best quality for the best prices. The first time you come in, you need your doctor's recommendation paper and your I.D. They call and verify that you are a patient, and than you have access to the Marijuana. These stores have a bunch of different types of Marijuana for different aliments and prices. Now I should mention that this is available because of a Propasition that California passed. I forget exactly, but I believe you are allowed to purchase up 4 ounces, should is a 1/4 of a pound. That is the amount you are allowed to have as a patient. That costs from $1,000 up to $2,000 for the strongest and rarest marijuana. It should be noted most Stores don't sell that much and most patients don't buy that much as a time; it's a red flag that the person isn't truly using it for medical reasons but rather to resell. The common about people buy is what's called an "eighth," which is 3.5 grams and, if you go to the right store, the best quality will be $50. That amount is should for like 6 joints; But it's a waste. The quality is so good you can dose yourself by smoking .2 of a gram out of a pipe and you will be fully medicated.

The Big Legal Issue

If your a Medical Marijuana Patient, and buy an eigth (3.5 grams) once a week, and you don't smoke before you drive, you should be legally safe. However, there are growers, doctors, vendors, and marijuana stores that face big legal issues. First, a patient is allowed to grow a few plants for personal use, according to the Proposition that based. However, because the State says it's legal yet the Feds say it's legal, it's a risk. Thats why most patients buy it instead of growing it. Growers face many legal issues because they usually grow a large amount; if they get caught they are going to jail. Now, some Cannibus clubs buy directly from growers, others buy from vendors, and others a combination of both so they a large variety for a patient to choose from. Vendors are people that know growers, buy from growers, and sell to various stores. Growers are bassically committed a crime yet without them the system, which is legal in California, wouldn't work. Vendors also take a great risk. They are like the drug dealers to the stores, except they only sell Marijuana and only in huge quantities. Doctor's could in the future face legal issues because of how easy it is to get recommended Marijuana. And the stores face many legal issues as well. Technically, they are supposed to be non for profit organizations. In reality, because it's a cash business, they make a good profit; which they basically deserve because of all the risks they are taking.

What side of the issue are you on?

Peoples opinions vary greatly, from one extreme to the other. So I'm asking you, the reader, the question of what do you think about this issue. Do you believe that marijuana (just marijuana) should be legalized in the United States for all people? Do you believe that there should be a medical marijuana program that is approved by the Federal government and the system California has should be the model for the country?

Or are you on the other side of the fence. Do you believe California should do away with yomarijuana and the State and nation should have it ilegal like cack and herion, the same penalties? Do you think California should do away with Medical Marijuana? Do you think that California has the right concept but they should rework the system?

What do you think about Medical Marijuana in California? What do you think about Marijuana in general and what legal status should it have?

I'd love to hear your opintions regarding this issue.

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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)
» left by Susan Thom
 3 years 87 days ago.
178 fans.
hi gregory,
 
i have crohn's, and if i wanted to, i could get medical marijuana. i choose not to, but see nothing wrong with cancer, aids, and other patients getting some relief. i feel it's better to find that relief in this manner. way better than walking around like a zombie on all the other "legal" medications.
 
pain is debilitating, and for someone to be able to lift some of that pain for a while with pot, is no more damaging than what's in other medications, and probably less.
 
i believe the laws should be changed to allow people in chronic pain to get some relief, but then what would the pharmaceutical companies do?
 
i think they are the ones who should be banned, and the public should get all the facts before making a decision for themselves.
 
best regards,
 
sue thom
» left by Gregory Akerman 3 years 86 days ago.
9 fans.
I cannot agree with you more, and I wish you the best of health!
» left by Ben Morrish
 3 years 86 days ago.
48 fans.
I can't see any rational reason for medical marijuana to be illegal.
 
In fact with tobacco and alcohol being legal, I can't see why marijuana is illegal at all, since it is comparable with those in terms of its harmful effects (safer in fact, in many ways).
 
No patient should be prevented, by the law, from getting the most effective treatment for their condition (unless there is a solid, evidence-based reason).
» left by Gregory Akerman 3 years 86 days ago.
9 fans.
I cannot agree with you more.
 
It seems that people from every political spectrum, Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Conservative, Moderate, etc. believe that Medical Marijuana should be legal.
 
I suppose that the White House has more important issues to deal with at the moment.
 
It should still be something done this year, to make it so that it's not a Schedule 1 drug and let States decide what they should do regarding Marijuana.
» left by Ben Morrish 3 years 86 days ago.
48 fans.
and those who think marijuana should be / remain illegal don't seem to have any real argument for why they take that position, other than "drugs are bad, mmkay?" (without realising alcohol and tobacco are drugs too!).

Its a mystery to me!
» left by Gregory Akerman 3 years 86 days ago.
9 fans.
Yes sir, it is a mystery to me as well.
 
I mean they can make so much money from it if it were legal; They would tax it like tobacco and cigarettes and make a bunch bunch bunch of money from it.
» left by Dianne Lehmann
 3 years 84 days ago.
136 fans.
Hi Gregory.
 
Marijuana is a drug. Prozac is a drug. The DEA doesn't want you growing marijuana in your basement or wherever. GlaxoSmithKline doesn't want you making Prozac in your garage. Prozac has some possibly very bad side effects. Marijuana has some possibly very bad side effects. Caffeine is a drug for that matter. It's just not regulated, but I know for a fact that there are people who should never, and I mean never, be allowed to ingest caffeine. Alcohol is a drug and we all know how that can impair a person. Then think about all the money that could be made in licensing growers and inspecting for quality and the jobs that all the rest of the support structure could create. I should think that drug companies would love to be growing marijuana for sale … no research and development money to spend. I know the argument is that if you legalize marijuana, what about heroin and opium and the like? Well, that's one for another article.
 
Great article,
Dianne
» left by Gregory Akerman 3 years 81 days ago.
9 fans.
Heres the simple difference:
 
I'm too lazy to go to the FDA or DEA website, but they list
marijuana as 0 deaths per year. Every other drug it's a different story.
 
That is one of the arguments for JUST marijuana to be legal. You mentioned herion; well, for people addicted, methadone is very (same with Opium).
 
Marijuana can't really be classified as a depressant, or stimulant, or hullcicgent. It's a combination of all depending on the strain.
 
As a side note; I do not smoke marijuana, I used to but I've stopped and I've been off it for over a year. I believe "anxiety" is not a good reason to get a doctors recommendation; but for people with REAL PHYSICAL illness marijuana should be an option.
» left by Geoffrey
from Phoenix AZ 2 years 265 days ago.
I smoke marijuana for both recreational use and to help with my speech impediment which I've been told may have been caused by the prescribed legal drugs I was given when I turned six along with my tourettes. I see no reason why it should be any more restricted than alcohol and tobacco and I ask anyone here to explain how it's anymore harmful than those drugs?
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