Medical pot returning to underground - LA Times

[budlover13]

Right now it seems like the people who actually do the work in the medical marijuana industry, the growers and the people who make products as well as the customers are all getting fucked over by these dispensaries which are nothing more than sleazy middle men.

I was ok with that when I thought the dispensaries would step up and unite if the feds ever came for them. Well, they didn't step up even a little bit. They just kicked back and watched as the feds shut down dispensaries one by one thinking it wouldn't happen to them. I'm not impressed with that behavior at all.

Now it's clear to me that these dispensary owners generally just don't give a shit. They are pretty fucking useless. They are just squeezing dollars out of both growers and customers. Now for the most part, they aren't even providing a higher quality product. They buy bud based on profit margins instead of quality, but still sell it for the same price as what top shelf should go for. There are exceptions to that, but not many.

They had the opportunity to both get rich AND help the medical marijuana movement. Instead they are kind of just shitting on everyone. For this reason, I hope the supreme court does end up shutting them all down everywhere. Fuck them, they are just sleazy middlemen sticking their hands in everyone's pocket. We don't need them.

The ones that did the right thing got shut down in my personal experience.

 

[Rapunzel]

Google Nixon Price Controls

The solution to high prices driven by high demand is more supply and more competition.

lolzers, thought you were implying that Nixon was attempting to fix the price of weed. That would have been the day. He did have some pretty crazy ideas though, like mass arrest and detention of counter cultural people (like all of us).

 

[Mithrandir420]

Personally I think the prices are low enough. We already have low end cheap herb that almost anyone can afford.

Some people can afford expensive wine, others have to drink 2 buck chuck. Not everyone gets to smoke the kind.

 

[Dan Kone]

The ones that did the right thing got shut down in my personal experience.

Exactly correct. Our backwards assed regulation system allowed the scum to rise to the top and the people doing it the right way get shut down.

 

[Rapunzel]

Resubscribing

 

[HUSTLERBOY20]

A lot of dispensaries in LA area are run by The Armenian mafia.

I was wondering why there were so many " Middle Easterners " running these shops lol...now I get it all

 

[richinweed]

If this is the case i think all the legal grows better go underground....as now they have names and numbers...I often wondered when they would use those "lists" against the growers....is this whats happening i wonder?

 

[d.s.m.]

Right now it seems like the people who actually do the work in the medical marijuana industry, the growers and the people who make products as well as the customers are all getting fucked over by these dispensaries which are nothing more than sleazy middle men.

I was ok with that when I thought the dispensaries would step up and unite if the feds ever came for them. Well, they didn't step up even a little bit. They just kicked back and watched as the feds shut down dispensaries one by one thinking it wouldn't happen to them. I'm not impressed with that behavior at all.

Now it's clear to me that these dispensary owners generally just don't give a shit. They are pretty fucking useless. They are just squeezing dollars out of both growers and customers. Now for the most part, they aren't even providing a higher quality product. They buy bud based on profit margins instead of quality, but still sell it for the same price as what top shelf should go for. There are exceptions to that, but not many.

They had the opportunity to both get rich AND help the medical marijuana movement. Instead they are kind of just shitting on everyone. For this reason, I hope the supreme court does end up shutting them all down everywhere. Fuck them, they are just sleazy middlemen sticking their hands in everyone's pocket. We don't need them.

I've been saying exactly this for a long time now. While there were (and may still be?) some honestly altruistic clubs, most of those fuckers would sell underage pussy if they could claim it was for medical reasons.

 

[Rapunzel]

I wish people acted for the benefit of others etc, but that doesn't happen in large communities, does it? Short of genetic reconditioning, market forces are everyone's best shot. Then again, with superhuge limited liability corps, all bets are off.

 

[Dan Kone]

I've been saying exactly this for a long time now. While there were (and may still be?) some honestly altruistic clubs, most of those fuckers would sell underage pussy if they could claim it was for medical reasons.

Yep. Wouldn't be surprised if a lot of these club owners were doing just that before they got a dispensary.

I overestimated these guys by a lot. Most of them are just fucking criminals that somehow ended up with dispensaries. I thought they'd at least see the big picture and understand that they could just as easily get shut down if they didn't all stand together against the feds. But really, none of them had any interest in that what so ever. They see this as a short term get rich quick scheme and that's it.

 

[Dan Kone]

I wish people acted for the benefit of others etc, but that doesn't happen in large communities, does it? Short of genetic reconditioning, market forces are everyone's best shot. Then again, with superhuge limited liability corps, all bets are off.

It's beyond them not doing good things, it's a lot of them do bad things. As you can see from the sticky thread up there, a lot of them flat out steal from their own vendors and employees even. I'd say the MAJORITY, yes, over 50%, are running a ponzi scheme at this point. And I know of some that do significantly worse things. Many of these dispensaries are strait up crime operations.

In theory, dispensaries should be a good thing even if they are acting purely in their own self interest. But due to over regulation they've basically been given monopolies on the bud trade in many areas and in most cases it's the worst types of scumbags who end up running them.

If the general public found out some of the crap that goes on behind the scenes at these places they'd all be shut down tomorrow.

 

[Rapunzel]

Two things, what do you think the dispensaries standing together against the feds could achieve, how would they do this?

Why doesn't the public have access to this information? If these practices are known, who has the information and is not sharing it? Does that make those people partly culpable for the wrongs these dispensaries supposedly do?

 

[Dan Kone]

Two things, what do you think the dispensaries standing together against the feds could achieve, how would they do this?

Pooling their money together to afford an elite defense team, like an OJ style defense force. In addition to that I believe a super-pac is necessary. There has to be negative political consequences towards these drug war types if we want them to leave us alone.

Why doesn't the public have access to this information? If these practices are known, who has the information and is not sharing it?

It's the behind the scene stuff that happens at dispensaries. Only people on the inside really know.

Does that make those people partly culpable for the wrongs these dispensaries supposedly do?

Maybe, IDK. I don't think it would be a good thing if all that dirty laundry came out. It'd ruin any chance at legitimacy for 215.

 

[Rapunzel]

If it does not fit, you must acquit is a long way away from fighting in court about law that has been settled for close to 100 years. Especially when some of the largest global industries oppose any kind of change to that law. The kind of money the dispensaries could pool together for some type of legal engagement would be insignificant compared to their opposition. A super-pac would be a drop in the bucket. The empire wins.

Unless peoples hearts and minds are won by the genuine positivity of this plant and its relationship to humans. That is unlikely when people passively allow corruption and criminal behavior (actual criminal behavior, the kind that actually harms other people) to flourish,

 

[george xxx]

Depends what the pack costs. If a club is charging $45 an eight then the grower should get $2800. That's more than even to cover all dispensary expenses and make a nice profit. But if a club is paying $2k a pack, then charging $50 an eight, that's profiteering IMO, and many clubs are doing just that.

I agree somewhat but at the same time I must disagree. The clubs are doing exactly what the government and corporate america has taught them to do. Charge the most amount of money you can get people to pay. It is the american way. It is also proof positive of how stupid people are. If no one will buy at $50 an eight what will happen to the cost

grower should get $2800

Every commercial farmer in the country shares this desire for their share of profits but they will never get it.

 

[PeyoteReligion]

Grow pot and sell it illegally. Fuck the government. They can't tax the underground maket.

 

[Dan Kone]

If it does not fit, you must acquit is a long way away from fighting in court about law that has been settled for close to 100 years. Especially when some of the largest global industries oppose any kind of change to that law.

I'm not suggesting they use the same defense as OJ, just that they should build a world class legal team, which together they most certainly can afford.

They have a key fact on their side. That law which makes marijuana illegal is based on a falsehood. Medical marijuana is illegal because marijuana is a schedule 1 narcotic which is defined by having "no medical use". That has been sufficiently been proven false in the last 25 years. There are hundreds of peer reviewed medical studies which is the standard we go buy in this country. There has to be a legal channel to challenge that in court.

So no, it wouldn't be a hopeless fight because the facts are on our side and together the dispensaries should have enough money to put together a legitimate legal challenge.

The kind of money the dispensaries could pool together for some type of legal engagement would be insignificant compared to their opposition. A super-pac would be a drop in the bucket. The empire wins.

That depends how much the other side is willing to invest. Medical marijuana in Cali alone brings in over 10 billion dollars I believe. This isn't pocket change anymore.

Unless peoples hearts and minds are won by the genuine positivity of this plant and its relationship to humans. That is unlikely when people passively allow corruption and criminal behavior (actual criminal behavior, the kind that actually harms other people) to flourish,

That's why a pac is necessary. We need a PR campaign. We need ads and we need to pay politicians who will speak out in favor of it. They'd be much more willing to do this if there was campaign money in it for them.

 

[payformeds]

It's beyond them not doing good things, it's a lot of them do bad things. As you can see from the sticky thread up there, a lot of them flat out steal from their own vendors and employees even. I'd say the MAJORITY, yes, over 50%, are running a ponzi scheme at this point. And I know of some that do significantly worse things. Many of these dispensaries are strait up crime operations.

In theory, dispensaries should be a good thing even if they are acting purely in their own self interest. But due to over regulation they've basically been given monopolies on the bud trade in many areas and in most cases it's the worst types of scumbags who end up running them.

If the general public found out some of the crap that goes on behind the scenes at these places they'd all be shut down tomorrow.[/QUOT............................This is so sad but so true..even in Oregon. It had been going on for years with the so called help groups but no one would say any thing being scared they would be kicked out of the club...Now that clubs have open people have started to talk.

 

[Dan Kone]

If it does not fit, you must acquit is a long way away from fighting in court about law that has been settled for close to 100 years. Especially when some of the largest global industries oppose any kind of change to that law. The kind of money the dispensaries could pool together for some type of legal engagement would be insignificant compared to their opposition. A super-pac would be a drop in the bucket. The empire wins.

Unless peoples hearts and minds are won by the genuine positivity of this plant and its relationship to humans. That is unlikely when people passively allow corruption and criminal behavior (actual criminal behavior, the kind that actually harms other people) to flourish,

Also wanted to say that I find your skepticism an admirable quality. Good for you for not just accepting what people say as fact. I'm the same way and it pisses a lot of people off.

Respect...

 

[Dan Kone]

This is so sad but so true..even in Oregon. It had been going on for years with the so called help groups but no one would say any thing being scared they would be kicked out of the club...Now that clubs have open people have started to talk.

The fucked up part is that I know a lot of really good people in this business. They are almost always barely scraping by and everyone always tries to get over on them.