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Podcasts Take Two
Medical marijuana dispensaries organize opposition to legalizing pot
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Jul 29, 2013
Listen • 5:30
Medical marijuana dispensaries organize opposition to legalizing pot
Medical marijuana operations are organizing opposition to laws allowing recreational use. The pot dispensaries are worried they will lose business.
A budtender pours marijuana from a jar at Perennial Holistic Wellness Center medical marijuana dispensary, which opened in 2006, on July 25, 2012 in Los Angeles.
A worker at a medical marijuana dispensary displays some of their items. Many dispensaries are working to stop the legalization of medical marijuana across the country.
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David McNew/Getty Images
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Medical marijuana operations are organizing opposition to laws allowing recreational use. The pot dispensaries are worried they will lose business.

It's odd.  Ironic even.  But groups representing medical marijuana businesses are lobbying against laws that would make the recreational use of marijuana legal.

18 states now allow the medical use of marijuana.  And it's become a big business, bringing in as much as one billion dollars a year in revenue.

Many medical marijuana operations see legalization as a threat to their livelihood.  But legalization fans dispute that.

Byron Tau has been following this story for Politico, and he says dispensary businesses opposing legalization are teaming up with some unlikely political partners.