Marijuana Dispensaries

[Shane916]

Anyone know what California department/agency handles the issuing/registration and regulation of these dispensaries?

While were on the subject, I am in need of information about who officially issues the medical marijuana cards to patients.

Thanks

[cmonk518]

CA State Attorney General's office and CA Dept. of Health Services run the entire mandated state program. Local county health dept. usually run the city regulations like in Los Angeles County. As per the CA Health and Safety Code Section 11362.5, any physician licensed in the state of CA may discuss, monitor, and provide the marijuana ID.

[Shane916]

CA State Attorney General's office and CA Dept. of Health Services run the entire mandated state program. Local county health dept. usually run the city regulations like in Los Angeles County. As per the CA Health and Safety Code Section 11362.5, any physician licensed in the state of CA may discuss, monitor, and provide the marijuana ID.

Excellent information. Thank you kindly.

[1990GT50]

So those who want to open the dispensaries go through the health board? Most seem to just open with a business liscense and nothing more....

[Shane916]

So those who want to open the dispensaries go through the health board? Most seem to just open with a business liscense and nothing more....

Intriguing. From my understanding, the city or county has limited the number of dispensaries that are allowed to open?

[cmonk518]

So those who want to open the dispensaries go through the health board? Most seem to just open with a business liscense and nothing more....

You are probably from Los Angeles area and used to seeing a new one spring up every day!! For every other county or city in CA, they have limits on how many dispensaries can open. You have to apply many different licenses throught the city and state, tax, resellers permit, and business license is quite different from the normal business setup.

The loophole in Los Angeles to circumvent all these controls was known as a hardship exemption which let many businesses open as dispensaries without the necessary permits, paperwork, etc. So probably thats why you think you just need a business license. It was pretty much like that until they locked down on this loophole that allowed for over 500 dispensaries to set up shop in Los Angeles. I believe even in liberal San Francisco, there are only under 50 legitimate shops for the whole entire city.

[1911su16b870]

...The loophole in Los Angeles to circumvent all these controls was known as a hardship exemption which let many businesses open as dispensaries without the necessary permits, paperwork, etc...

I laughed when this thought came into my mind regarding a dispensary owner trying to setup shop...But duuuude its soooo hardship to set up biz when your soooo stonnned

[scc1909]

I was surprised to learn recently that there is a marijuana dispensary in the nearest town to me (I live about 10 miles outside town). I guess they're pretty much everywhere in California, eh?

[Chach]

I was surprised to learn recently that there is a marijuana dispensary in the nearest town to me (I live about 10 miles outside town). I guess they're pretty much everywhere in California, eh?

Not everywhere. My town's city council recently voted to bad Medical Marijuana dispensaries from opening within city limits.

[El Gato]

and.....they are still being shut down and people arrested...in spite of the O'bama hands off policy...

There is alot of money to be made dealing pot... the dispensaries know this... the DOJ has just instituted rules and regulations and the AG has started sending people to the pen for selling pot at dispensaries... they are not allowed to make a profit as I understand it.. they can only be "collectives" comrade...

[DREADNOUGHT78]

I have a "pot shop" across the street from my business.They are so busy it is insane.Also they have a full time armed gaurd which escorts the employees to and from thier vehicles. I was B'sing with a PD officer which was telling me that there are alot of new laws for these places but the government agencies that are suppose to enforce the new laws are so broke that enforcement has gone out the window.

[Slim]

I thought the DEA was raiding them? Also heard if you have a card you are listed as a drug addict?

[El Gato]

The other phenom is as follows:
drug dealer A is tired of paying for his product - he/she is already a criminal - has at least a firearm or two sitting around - wants product to sell - hmmmm says he/she to the self - there is a marijuana "dispensary" down on the corner what is competing against me and has pre-packaged and labeled ganja in the store waiting for someone to steal - drug dealer - takes his roscoe down to the dispensary and relieves them of their product - then sells same on the street - QED

Hence the armed guard with the IQ of lukewarm water

[cmonk518]

I thought the DEA was raiding them? Also heard if you have a card you are listed as a drug addict?

Now under the Obama administration and new leadership at DEA, they and the DOJ have stopped all prosecution of medical marijuana cases, dropped all charges on current cases in the system, and ended DEA raids on legitimate dispensaries.

And there is no database or system currently in CA that can tag you or ID you as a drug addict. ACLU would not look too highly on such an issue. Maybe if you are in a court-mandated drug rehabilitation program or under probation, law enforcement may be able to pull that up when making an inquiry on you. But if under legal state protection from a CA state statue that allows medicinal marijuana and under the CA Compassionate Use Act, I highly doubt there is a system that is set up to legitimately tag you as a "drug addict."

The only time the federal government may even get the chance to see private confidential medical records is if they raid the doctor's office under a search warrant. Other than that, I can't see any other way the government or police would even know you were in a medical marijuana program. Your medical marijuana information isn't free to float around for everybody to see or even check (say if you wanted to get a new job). Even dispensaries go out of their way to protect private confidential information with all their clientele.

[whobob]

It's just a matter of time before MJ goes mainstream like tobacco.