cannabisnews.com: Oakland Dispensary a Major Force in Medical Pot
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Oakland Dispensary a Major Force in Medical Pot
Posted by CN Staff on August 07, 2010 at 06:16:39 PT
By Matthai Kuruvila, Chronicle Staff Writer
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Oakland, CA -- Cementing its position as a cannabis capital, Oakland has moved rapidly in recent weeks toward a world of legalized pot, developing permits for what would be some of the largest sanctioned marijuana farms in the world and writing ballot measures that would create a bevy of cannabis taxes. But at every step, notable opposition came from one group: Harborside Health Center, believed to be the world's largest medical marijuana dispensary. Harborside says it was fighting for the product's integrity, preserving the vision of state voters when they legalized pot as medicine in 1996.
But some saw it as simply a business move for a dispensary that's become a colossus in an industry that hasn't totally moved out of the black market."Really, they're just wanting to protect their market share," said Indigo Moonstar, 28, who said he operates a small marijuana grow facility in Oakland and has criticized Harborside at City Council meetings. "They've had a corner on the market."Marijuana might be mainstream, and its recreational use might become legal in California if voters pass Proposition 19 in the November election. But the profound changes also raise complex issues that industries of the purely legal kind have long wrestled with and complained about: the burdens of taxation, regulation and competition.If recent Oakland City Council meetings about marijuana were any indication, not everyone is ready for the government to move in.Harborside unsuccessfully lobbied against the council's November ballot measure to increase the city's existing 1.8 percent tax on pot dispensaries' gross sales to 5 percent. They said the higher operating cost would drive patients to neighboring cities with lower or no taxes.Harborside also lost its fight against industrial farms, in which it said inevitable corporate ownership and profit-seeking would deteriorate the quality of the medicine.Harborside's activism is applied to a hodgepodge of pot laws. While federal law bans all marijuana use, state law allows dispensaries to sell to patients who have doctors' recommendations. Large-scale growing is largely illicit, a gap the Oakland City Council last month sought to close by developing regulations and licensing. Snipped Complete Article: http://drugsense.org/url/1lSyXelcSource: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)Author: Matthai Kuruvila, Chronicle Staff WriterPublished: Saturday, August 7, 2010Copyright: 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Contact: letters sfchronicle.comWebsite: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #11 posted by Storm Crow on August 08, 2010 at 10:52:35 PT
Flawed, yes, but.......
The average dude being able to grow their own in a 5 x 5 plot (tax free unless sold), is a dang sight better what we have now! We can introduce propositions later to modify the less desirable parts of 19! I'll always take getting half a loaf today, over yesterday's none - and then work on getting the other half tomorrow! If we gotta do this in "baby steps", OK, but we ARE making progress! Register to vote!
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Comment #10 posted by Dr Ganj on August 08, 2010 at 00:05:10 PT:
Great Article From Ireland
This is a well written piece from Ireland, of all places.
Looks like Prop 19 is making world news- and that it should, as once this passes, I guarantee more states will soon follow the path of reason, and of course- taxation.http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/californias-new-pot-of-gold-2279819.html
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Comment #9 posted by Canis420 on August 07, 2010 at 20:18:46 PT:
Dr. Ganj
Time for everybody to get a bong, bang a gong and hold your head up high. To many metaphors and rock songs ...lol. Bong up everybody...go Cali!
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on August 07, 2010 at 16:56:56 PT
Dr. Ganj
I value your opinion and always have. I think that Prop 19 is flawed but when MSNBC does news on it they don't get into the details so people that watch the news think that California is going to legalize marijuana and they don't hear about the strings. The TV news is what will make legalization of marijuana an exceptable thing to do. It's like Gays in the military and Gay marriage. No one is shocked by those issues anymore. People will think it's ok is what I mean.
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Comment #7 posted by Dr Ganj on August 07, 2010 at 16:40:48 PT
My Bet
FoM~I'm a gambling type guy, and my view on this is that California voters will see this marijuana prohibition crap has been nothing but a complete, utter, and total disaster.
Prohibition does not work, has not worked, and will never work.52%-48%
*YES*Finally, we can all get a bong...
http://taxcannabis.org
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on August 07, 2010 at 16:15:08 PT
Just My Thoughts
I am glad I don't have a horse in this race. I think it must be hard for people to decide how to vote.
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Comment #5 posted by Dr Ganj on August 07, 2010 at 16:13:03 PT
Rodney King
"Can't we all just get a bong?"
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 07, 2010 at 16:04:42 PT
UPI: Medical Pot at Center of California Battle
Oakland, Calif., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- A medical marijuana dispensary in Oakland, Calif., says it opposes the city's plans to permit legal marijuana farms and put marijuana tax measures to voters.Harborside Health Center, believed to be the world's largest medical marijuana dispensary, says it is fighting for the product's integrity, standing by the vision of state voters when they legalized pot as medicine in 1996, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday.But some say Harborside's opposition to the city's intentions is just a business move for a dispensary that's become a leading player in an industry that hasn't totally shaken its illicit image."Really, they're just wanting to protect their market share," said Indigo Moonstar, 28, who said he operates a small marijuana growing facility in Oakland. "They've had a corner on the market."A ballot proposition on the November California ballot could legalize recreational use of the drug, a profound change that could raise issues other legal industries have long had to deal with such as taxation, regulation and competition.Harborside chief Stephen DeAngelo says his efforts to slow government intrusion into the medical marijuana field are critical for the emergent industry."Society has a chance to get it right this time," he said. "We didn't get it right with tobacco. We didn't get it right with alcohol. We put those potentially dangerous substances in the hands of corporations who had no interest other than making as much money as possible."Do we want those kinds of companies getting their hands on cannabis?" DeAngelo asked.Copyright: 2010 United Press International, Inc.URL: http://drugsense.org/url/Cgn18zkW
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on August 07, 2010 at 15:39:37 PT
Bravo, Dr Ganj! Bravo!
Very well said.
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Comment #2 posted by keydet46 on August 07, 2010 at 15:26:49 PT:
Objections
In the words of Rodney King. "Can't we all just get along"!
We have to stop this infighting and legalize it!
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Comment #1 posted by Dr Ganj on August 07, 2010 at 13:27:56 PT
The Right Thing To Do
First of all, let's follow the money, as things usually start there.
Cities like Oakland, and Richmond clearly understand what is to gain here, and many more cities will soon follow.
Taxation is key. Being able to collect taxes on cannabis products has caught the attention of numerous cities across the country.
Like it or not, this is how the legal arena of cannabis will play out.
Many cannabis club owners really don't want to see this happen, as they will be losing leverage on the market share.
That's understandable, but remember, club members are paying black market prices, and cities are receiving the dividends of these inflated prices. This should end, as it is not right, or fair.
The right thing to do, is to Vote YES November 2nd, on Prop 19, and end these black market prices, end the monopoly cannabis clubs have, stop arresting people for cultivation, stop the helicopter overflights, stop the police shootings of growers, stop the judges from sending people to jail for marijuana, stop the attorneys who subsist upon the misery of the marijuana war, stop the prison guards from abusing marijuana growers, and stop all this marijuana madness once and for all!
Oh, and one last thing. For you growers and cannabis club owners out there thinking about voting NO on Prop 19 to keep your black market, prohibition money coming in, think about what is really best for Californians: Sending people to jail for marijuana, continued police terror and brutality, or having a legal free-market environment where skill, creativity, and craftsmanship are rewarded with praise and legal income? The right thing to do is obvious.
http://taxcannabis.org/
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