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One Way to Take Care of Business
"While I fully support [marijuana's] use for medicinal purposes, why don't we regulate it like we do Lipitor or Viagra," Bratton said today at a media event unrelated to urging city council to expedite the new dispensary laws. "You can't buy those two without getting it through a legitimate pharmacy. If this drug is so important and so helpful, why is it not regulated like every other drug?" In September 2007, the city placed a year-long moratorium on new dispensaries while the city drafted new regulations on them. Twice, the city has extended the moratorium, which is still in effect. Clearly frustrated at the state law passed thirteen years ago by voters, Bratton exclaimed, "they pass a law, then they have no regulations as to how to enforce the darn thing and, as a result, we have hundreds of these locations selling drugs to every Tom, Dick and Harry."
LAPD Chief Bratton Wants Marijuana Sold in Regular Pharmacies
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The real issue is simply that no matter what stigmas might be associated with marijuana, it is not like other drugs.
Lipitor and Viagra require much regulation due to the risks of abuse... documented risks... admitted risks.
I'm all for regulating marijuana, but stop pretending like it is as dangerous as synthetic, proprietary pharmaceuticals.
i'm down for this
Legitimate locations do not sell to every Tom, Dick, and Harry. Legitimate locations require a doctor's letter approving the use of the drug. They keep the letters on file and, more often than not, issue the patient a card verifying the legitimacy of their use.
Not a pharmacy and not a prescription, but a parallel method of dispensing.
"Legitimate locations do not sell to every Tom, Dick, and Harry."
Absolutely correct. Legitimate cannabis clubs not only require the recommendation from a doctor, they go out of their way to verify that the doctor and the letter are both valid.
I will agree with Bratton on one thing. State and local lawmakers have had thirteen years to enact regulations and have instead sat on their hands and acted like this would all go away. Meanwhile many patients didn't have thirteen years to wait for legislators to get off their asses and do their jobs.
Let's not pretend it's as hard to get a marijuana card as it is a prescription for Lipitor.
Everyone seems to support regulating and taxing it - until the government keeps raising taxes on it, like cigarettes and alcohol. Then we won't be so happy about it. ;-)
> Let's not pretend it's as hard to get a marijuana card as it is a prescription for Lipitor.
No, let's not. It's much easier to get a scrip.
Really Bingos? Any way of objectively backing up that assertion? Strictly from personal experience of "friends", the process of obtaining a marijuana card seems to be the reverse of a normal script: analysis of symptoms, diagnosis, prescription... I don't know anyone who had symptoms of panic or anxiety (the most common reasons for the card I've heard) who obtained a card and hadn't had it as the end-goal all along.
I don't know anyone who goes in for Lipitor for recreational purposes.
"Really Bingos? Any way of objectively backing up that assertion?"
You could ask Anna Nicole Smith, if she hadn't overdosed on legally pricsribed drugs.
Bratton is right on about this. If it's going to be used as a medical drug, dispense it and regulate it as a medical drug, in real pharmacies.