Medical Marijuana Crackdown

God forbid that freedom interrupts your self awareness or triggers a self awareness attack because someone finds pleasure, help, relief from pain, sleep, general well being, peace of mind from using an herb placed on this earth by a being far more powerful than yourself for the benefit of mankind as evidenced in a book known as the Bible. "For I have given you every herb bearing seed" The moronic, rigid, self awareness of those who cannot allow for this freedom and believe in government intrusion into the lives of peaceful loving citizens should examine their motives. Stop the madness and worry about yourself instead of imposing your alcohol driven ego centric nonsense on the rest of us who smoke pot.

Every time someone uses the alcohol argument to support the availability of medical marijuana it only proves that they do not understand what "medical" marijuana is for.

Face it, the fact is that there does not need to be anywhere near this number of "dispensaries" to serve those that have a LEGITIMATE need to use marijuana.

That's the problem, everyone is running around chanting how these businesses are serving the MEDICAL need of patients all over town. Yet the simple fact is that only a small percentage of those that patronize these shops can honestly make that claim.

The majority of these "prescriptions" are completely bogus and simply used as a license to get high. Getting high is NOT what the purpose of MEDICAL MARIJUANA is for. Who does not understand that? Really?

For those of you that cannot see the forest through the trees, as this situation spirals completely off target, a few things are going to happen...

Physicians are bound by FEDERAL laws. Those laws are quite clear on writing bogus prescriptions too. It won't be long until all the attention and controversy drawn to this issue reaches a point where the Feds are going to step in and kill it all. That is going to harm the very people this is intended to help, those with a LEGITIMATE MEDICAL NEED. We'll see doctors going to jail too. Great, that helps everyone huh?

There are statistics that show what percentage of any given population truly fits the criteria for legitimate need for medically prescribed pot. It is not rocket science to see that when an area has conservatively 4-5 times that amount of prescriptions, the system is being abused.

Add to that all of this arguing by people that clearly are not in that small, select, group and the inevitable conclusion can only be that the reason for all that outcry is simply this, those people want to GET HIGH. They do not have cancer or glaucoma. No, they used whatever creative manipulation they could come up with to get that precious card... self diagnosed ADD, hangnails, whatever... all a crock of BS.

Face it, you are your own worst enemy here. Publicly screaming and kicking when the City tries to scale it back to the actual "legal" dispensaries is only going to draw more attention to what is really going on. That is going to cause a much bigger problem and the Feds WILL kill it all.

Too bad you could not just play by the rules that the City and County have laid out. After all, that still provided you with a place to get your fix. No, you are bound and determined to cause it ALL to get shut down through your own myopic actions.

...and the real victims? The minority group of people who really DO have a real medical need to ease their suffering... they are going to get screwed thanks to you all.

The problem w/ medicinal marijuana is not the marijuana, it's the messenger (or @ least a large portion of them) :) henry

Medical marijuana is a farse. Who knew we had 20,000 people that needed medical marijauna here in SB. Jeez what a joke it is....

Rather then have the authorities talk to these owners, since it's obvious they are trying hard to do the right thing, I'm so glad SBPD just wasted tons of tax payer money on crazy SWAT raids all over the place. Really?

And at the same time the police chief is saying how strapped for cash his department is? Really?

Maybe someone should tell the chief a letter would have closed them down, if that was their goal. I mean it worked for the feds and it only cost them a stamp!

Law enforcement is so broken, we need to find a new name for it...

The horizon? A ballot initiative to tax and regulate pot, set for November. Hallelujah!

Cartoonz, you shamefully show you ignorance for all to see.

Yes some people lie to get a medical card to help dodge the abhorrent cannabis law. However to say that those people are the majority is ignorance. Are you a doctor? Have you interviewed the majority of the patients who use Cannabis? Did you determine with your years of experience that these people did not in fact need Cannabis?

I don't care if someone simply has a small headache and use Cannabis in place of aspirin, its justified simply because Cannabis is by far the more effective and safer medication.

I don't care for the way you imply that Cannabis is addictive by saying people just want to get their "fix" perhaps you should either chose your wording more carefully or do your research on Cannabis.

The worst enemy here is the abhorrently ignorant monetary driven corrupt politicians whom are responsible for not only allowing but encouraging the war on drugs to continue when obviously the war on drugs is a failure in the sense that it has any impact on drug use.

I suppose it does have a positive effect if your a DEA agent, Police agency, lawyer, judge or any of the other law enforcement positions that make a ton of money of off denying freedom from american citizens.

Cannabis for medical use or not it doesn't matter it should still be legal for anyone over the age of 21 to use. If its not something you enjoy then thats great don't do it but don't try to deny others their alcohol subsitute.

Just because something is a law doesn't mean it should be a law or that it has the peoples best interest at heart. Perhaps you should remove your lips from the governments behind and learn to think on your own instead of following with blind obediance.

OMG are people still whining about how this is 'medicine'? With 'patients' skateboarding up to the dispensary entrance? Oh please. For those of us that don't think getting high is a positive side effect of 'medicine' to cure a headache, what do you suggest? We should go eat the bark off an asparus tree so we can be as 'natural' as you? Gimme a break. Even the 'permitted' dispensary is a drug dealer, and once you get 'em in, you can't control them. That much is clear. I am glad the PD is busting these clowns. I get so tired of the city looking the other way at drug dealing, and all these potheads, er, patients, whining about their wonderful 'medicine'. Cough cough.

umm fyi....they didnt do anything by this....they are reopened now....lol.....just a reminder that they did nothing by doing all of this....just a way to get more funding.....doubt they well get it....what a bunch of idiots...good work.....try getting the real criminals....like these idiots who support this nonsence ......grow up people....its the law...lol....good work enforcing it......the charges well never EVER stick....what a waste.....and look at these dumb ass yuppys applauding it....are you kidding me.......you people are the real criminals....why dont you go see where your children are....pay attention to what matters.....again its the law....get over it....next time im pulling up to the collective on my board i will give you a nice smile and a wave....have a great day :)

Another problem w/ these "dispensaries" is that in some cases, the founders have a shady past. I'm not talking dealing pot, I'm talking assault, burglary, some even have gang involvement.
The comment I made arlier about the problem being the mesenger is this: It all amounts to a bunch of old hippies & their offspring wanting the "right" to their high. If they can honestly admit that, then I can deal w/ it. But as it stands there's zero credibility.
We ALREADY have medicinal marijuana, it's called Marinol. Sure, it's synthetic, sure, it's way potent, but it is 1,9-deltatetrahydrocannabinol, THC, the active component in pot.
I personally don't see how putting hot gases w/ traces of tar compunds in your lungs is medicinal. While pot doesn't conatin nicotine like tobacco does, it (along w/ ANY pyrolized vegetation) contains tar :) henry

@Ouroboros "I don't care for the way you imply that Cannabis is addictive by saying people just want to get their "fix" perhaps you should either chose your wording more carefully or do your research on Cannabis."

You show your own ignorance right there. I do know far more about this than you seem to think and I already chose the right words to make my point. Seems you go that point too.

Look, the bottom line is that the law is not intended to allow recreational use, only legitimate medical use. Yet, it is the majority of users that are in it to get high. Argue that all you want, that is a fact.

It is also a fact that it is these same recreational users that are making it necessary for the city/county and law enforcement to try to contain this problem.

If the only people using medical marijuana were those with legitimate medical needs, like cancer or glaucoma, there would be no issue. But its not, it is mostly people abusing the system to get high. Another fact, but you'll never admit that.

Look, if you want it to be legalized to get high with - work to change the law. But, until that law is made (and it won't happen) the current laws will be enforced.

Sorry to kill your buzz, but that's the way it is.

Hey Tom Cruise (and most Scientologists) doesn't believe in anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications.

There are people pay more for, and who only eat Organic foods because they are scared of the pesticides that are used in the fields.

No one is ever going to agree on everything, but at the same time the fear mongering and stereotyping of the people who use marijuana just shows your intolerance and ignorance towards anyone without the same opinion as yours.

Medical Marijuana, and soon legal Marijuana for those 21 and over, is here. Learn to respect others as they respect you.

You know Whale penis is a popular cure in China for an array of things. Why not go bug them about all Whales they are killing so they can digest it's penis?

wow......struck a nerve in precious sb.......you guys are hopeless......nothing about that statement was offensive....what happened to freedom of speech.....i thought you were the press.....lol....no wonder you suck so bad....just as bad as the sheriffs whose served the warrants up to the idiot judge who signed it.....you all need help

if its for "personal attacks"....than you would agree that all of the comments on here would have to be removed......or are u hypocritical?

Its no wonder your paper is so bad.

Truth hurts.......doesn't it?

sharonella, are you really suggesting that people be arrested and thrown in prison for growing aspirin trees or taking the bark off of said aspirin tree?

I'm not quite sure what your argument is there, please elaborate.

People have the natural right to choose their own remedies, whether for transportation, God, or pain. Whatever people think about marijuana is irrelevant. The choice that does no harm to others is beyond the majority rule zone.

You all do know the REAL reason theses dispensaries got shut down?
It goes back to a traffic stop made by SBPD on East Gutierrez on 2/5/10. This guy was in a car w/ no front license plate, trying to pick up a hooker right in front of the cops. When he was stopped by the popo for the missing license plate & attempted contact w/ a prostitute they ran his license. Turns out he was already on probation for possesion w/ intent to distribute. This led to a search of his vehicle that yielded 20 lbs. of pot. BRILLIANT!
The SBPD then secured a warrant to search his home & found a laboratory to produce "honey oil" which is concentrated canabbis from shake.
When questioned about this the suspect began to "sing like a bird" & gave up the names of 4 dispensaries that were buying the stuff from him & selling it in a way that went against CA's "Compassionate Use Act" guidelines.
It was a domino effect, all because of 1 dumb guy, who apparently has a history of burning people. That's what "medicinal" marijuana is dealing w/.
Again, it ain't the substance, it's the players involved. They feel they've become legit dealers now that a law gets passed, but still go outside said law.
I don't think pot should be illegal, but definitely regulated, such as it's trying to be right now.
Thing is, even w/ regulation, ou're going to have those that want to play outside said regulation. That's what you're dealing w/: GREED! :) henry

hank, that story absolutely wreaks of setup... I am at least 98% certain the guy with the missing front license plate trying to pick up a hooker in front of the cops with 20 lbs of weed in his car is an agent who needed a incident with police in order to bring these dispensaries to the attention of law enforcement.

I can't believe we are having dispensaries setup like this.

"authorities noticed a Honda Element, driven by Glen Mowrer III, pull over and make contact with a suspected prostitute. Eventually stopping the car for not having a front license plate..."

So here's what's gnawing my hide: If East Gutierrez is a one-way street, then how is it that the cops were able to see that the car was missing a FRONT plate? Did they race ahead of the car, pull over, get out of the patrol car and look back to see if per chance this car had a front plate? Oh yeah, and why didn't they just bust him for solicitation when they saw him "make contact"? Hell of a lot easier than trying to see the front of a car to check for a plate when both cars are driving the same direction.

Of course, I'm assuming the cops were not driving the wrong direction on a one way street as part of some new "crackdown" on no-front-plate-having cars.

Hmmmm. Loonpt might be on to something.

The collectives that got raided were all buying honey oil from this guy. That is an absolute violation of what a "collective" is supposed to be and completely against the law. So the cops did what they were required to do.

Look up what the rules are for a legal collective under the law... "non profit" is being flagrantly abused here too, as well as the sealed ecosystem of the definition of what a collective is. That last part is what got these places raided, and that situation would have never occurred if they were not flagrantly breaking the law and buying from illegal dope dealers like Mr. Horny on Gutierrez.

And the guy on Gutierrez street? He was nothing more than a drug dealer. Period. Not too bright either, by the looks of things.

Cry all you want about "injustice" and "conspiracy", it won't do anything but bring more scrutiny on an already over abused privilege intended only for a select few really sick people that actually needed medical marijuana. Those are the people that are going to be hurt in the end.

Sacjon:"If East Gutierrez is a one-way street, then how is it that the cops were able to see that the car was missing a FRONT plate? Did they race ahead of the car, pull over, get out of the patrol car and look back to see if per chance this car had a front plate?"

Sacjon, good observation, but they *(the cops) could've also been stooped @ 1 of the intersections to make a right turn, looking to the left for traffic, saw the deal go down & BAM!
Loonpt, according to some reliable people in the med pot community, this guy has a shady set of credentials. He's not a narc per se, but just an opportunist trying to cash in on some legit needs by a small segment of the population. Cartoonz I think has his MO pegged.
Regardless, it was this guy's bust that led to a domino effect :) henry

hank, I just noticed your comment about marinol.

I'm telling you it doesn't work at all. Cannabis is not just THC, there are hundreds of cannabinoids that affect various regulatory systems throughout the body that are found in cannabis. Scientists have been trying to study these cannabinoids for at least a decade now, as they have found that the cannabinoids, not the THC, are primarily responsible for restoring regulatory function that cause various conditions.

Marinol MIGHT help some patients with pain, but it doesn't help as much as the real thing and there is difficulty in titrating pills whereas cannabis is very easy to titrate. If I'm in pain, I can use it now and know that in 30 seconds I'll feel better. If I'm feeling good I can take less, and if I'm in great pain I can take more. That is difficult to do with a pill.

I'm just saying anybody who knows about medicinal cannabis will laugh at your if you mention marinol, it's a joke...

Hey Cartoonz, I was not aware that it is illegal for patients to purchase their medicine from the black market. Why would it be any different for a collective?

Patients need medicine, if we can divert cannabis off of the black market where kids have primary access and funnel it to patients who really need it, from your perspective, is that a bad thing?

According to the Attorney General's guidelines :

"A collective should be an organization that merely facilitates the collaborative efforts of patient and caregiver members – including the allocation of costs and revenues. As such, a collective is not a statutory entity, but as a practical matter it might have to organize as some form of business to carry out its activities. The collective should not purchase marijuana from, or sell to, non-members; instead, it should only provide a means for facilitating or coordinating transactions between members."

The irony of your reference to all the buyers as "patients" and to weed as "medicine" is laughable. Sure, there are some that use it as "medicine" but far more that are only abusing the system to get high. That is the reason for all the trouble, don't kid yourself that it isn't.

Now add to that the fact that there are so many "storefront" shops popping up everywhere and you have another cause for scrutiny because it is very difficult to justify that any of those operations are actually operating within the narrow guidelines set out by SB420 and Prop 215.

Here's the real kicker though - medical marijuana remains completely illegal under current federal law. The DEA has raided scores of medical marijuana growers, clubs and caregivers in California since the enactment of Prop. 215.

** For the most part, the targets have been either high-profile activists who have attracted publicity, or commercial-scale dispensaries and growers whom local law enforcement has decided to turn over for federal prosecution.** (what I've been warning about from the start)

Defendants in federal cases are not allowed to invoke state law or medical marijuana as a defense. As a result, every medical marijuana defendant who has gone to trial in federal court has been convicted. Sentences have ranged from one day to 20 years.

(cont)

(cont)

See, instead of making such a fuss over the city/county's efforts to maintain a controlled situation and still allowing access, users should instead be appreciating the fact that the city/county is not using the really big tool (read FEDS) to clean this up.

The only way this issue will not get to that level of draconian control is for the users (or "patients" as you like to say) to not be such activists about things whenever some of these places gets busted for something.

Don't kid yourself, running a proper collective under State Law is not a lucrative business, yet the money is exactly the reason why there are so many of these businesses trying to get a piece of the cash pie. So many corners are being cut, rules bent, etc. that it isn't even funny. That gives the powers that be a lot of leverage to work with. Add to that the wariness of the community about the unsavory issues that are associated with these places (right or wrong, it is the perception) and you have the impetus for the city/county to put a lid on this (pun intended) and keep things low profile.

"Medical Marijuana - Its NOT for getting HIGH". Under the Law, that should be the credo spoken by everyone. If it were, we'd have much fewer issues on all levels.

cartoonz, I get high after a walk on the beach, going surfing or doing a good job on something. There is nothing wrong with "getting high". Caffeine makes you high, so do cigarettes and alcohol. Of the latter, cannabis is actually the most safe, benign and medically beneficial substance. The vast majority of diseases are caused by stress, therefore cannabis is actually beneficial in the longterm for users who suffer from any sort of stress. People who are getting recommendations have some medical condition that causes stress, whether it is stress from natural causes, pain, sleeplessness, nausea, depression or what have you.

As for Federal legality, Obama has put out a memo stating that the DEA should not prosecute in cases where people are operating under state guidelines for medicinal use.

The Attorney General guidelines specify that the collective obtain the cannabis from members. Does it specify where those members obtain the cannabis? Again, the law here is not clear. Patients should have, and I was under the impression have always had the right to buy their medicine on the black market. Collectives and dispensaries are methods which help avoid the black market, but there is no reason why they should deny medicine to patients if they are unable to procure the medicine themselves.

It is obvious that cartoonz and notfbi are paranoid control freaks who have a very narrow view of this whole subject. You really want to believe that cannabis is the cause of all of society's problems. You show no compassion for the common man, just ruthlessness in upholding your twisted, limited view of the law. You have no experience with cannabis and its effects, just use it as a scapegoat to place blame on.

You don't need to be sick to use cannabis. Our oppressive leaders took away our natural right to do so, and getting a recommendation is just an outlet for people who want to go about it legitimately. Of course, in your limited view, you cannot understand this, even attack it.

The real tragedy is that the powers that be seem to agree with you.

No, no you must be submissive sheep who believe everything the politicians tell us and question nothing. After all look at the shape of the country, haven't they led us right?

@blue_green - You could not be more wrong about who I am, what experience I have, or even what my position on this is, apparently. Hysterically funny.

You are also not seeing the big picture of what is actually happening with all this and, more importantly, why.

So keep on your crusade. Good luck.

But I will tell you one more time... if you want the recreational use of marijuana to be legal, work on changing the law instead of trying to pervert the law we already have. If you don't see that as the root cause of all the raids and hulaballoo going on now, you're definitely not seeing the bigger picture at all.

Kind of looks like a way to take honest peoples money etc ..
that really is all that they are doing ...