Of Mainstreaming Marijuana

By

Neal Smith

It had to happen. And in one sense, it is a good and natural consequence of the coming relegalization of Marijuana. In another sense, there’s a risk of the malfeasance of big business super-controlling, super-marketing Marijuana for no other reason than to maximize profits.

Regardless, relegalization is coming. Constantly it seems, yet another state makes progress towards that end. So far, as of March, 2010, no state has relegalized for personal use, but 14 (And the District of Columbia) now allow medical possession, sale and cultivation. California will have a ballot question on its November, 2010 ballot. Massachusetts has a bill pending. Other states are mulling the idea.

Part of the trade-off for relegalization is allowing government to tax sales of Marijuana. That means government will be taking its share of the profits, in addition to setting some sort of limits on sale, possession, production and probably ideas to be a pain in the ass that we haven’t even thought of. Meanwhile, business people will be thinking of ways to make money off of a “New” product.

They already have.

For 40 years or so there have been products available for the Marijuana smoker: Pipes, bongs, rolling papers, roach clips, ashtrays, one-hitters, books, magazines, clothing, safes, air fresheners, scales, a myriad of growing equipment and more.

Government is most likely going to want some standards in delivery of medical Marijuana. Never mind that simply filling a pipe or rolling a joint will continue to be quite sufficient. Government will want a pipe that holds a precise amount…maybe a different size pipe for different prescription amounts. You know how government is. For example, during the “Space race” in the 1950’s and ‘60’s, the U.S. government, desiring a writing instrument that could write in space, spent several million dollars developing a pen that would write upside down in zero gravity. The Soviets simply used a pencil.

At least at first, government will demand minute accountability. They will demand reports, quality standards, tax stamps, and Creator-knows-what-else. As usual, they will create a bureaucratic nightmare for those supplying Marijuana for either medical or personal use. What’s a stoner to do?

There’s an ap for that!

Since March of 2009, Medical Marijuana Inc. has been consulting with various dispensaries and compassion clubs to ensure accurate compliance with government regulations.

They’re a public corporation, an over the counter stock market participant with an identification code of MJNA. According the company’s website, they have “…developed a suite of solutions to deliver an efficient and secure infrastructure for the Medical Marijuana Industry which provides the tools to industry operators to effectively manage their business with the confidence that they are in full compliance.” They at least have the foresight to know what the future holds: “Medical Marijuana Inc. recognizes the vast and unequaled opportunities that exist in the rapidly expanding medical marijuana industry. The scientific recognition of cannabis has brought legalized marijuana use to the forefront of mainstream discussion, thus opening the door for safe and lucrative investment opportunities.”

What, you don’t want to invest in a third party to do your work for you? There are a few institutions of, er, higher education. Oaksterdam University in California offers training in how to grow medical Marijuana, how to run a cooperative and other necessary training that such honored standard universities aren’t yet up to speed on. Of course, much of what we know about Cannabis/Hemp has come from mainstream universities, and as long as research dollars are available, they’ll break even more ground. But as far as growing, distributing and the boots-on-the-ground battles of medical Marijuana, Oaksterdam is the best and most well-known. Other institutions include Greenway University, Medical Marijuana Education and Training. Cannbe, whose CEO founded Harborside Management Associates in California and ran one of the early dispensaries there, is getting good media coverage. All are teaching would-be entrepreneurs such things as: Dealing with government, finding a good location for a dispensary, setting up delivery services, marketing, growing the medicine and other aspects of getting needed medicine to patients.

Media coverage has been rampant, much of it very positive to relegalization. Business Week magazine in November, 2009 ran a positive piece on the education. Even comedians are now joking about pot in a positive way. There are frequent passing references to pot in talk shows, even some game shows. Drew Carey, the host of “The Price is Right” is a well-known advocate for medical Marijuana, as is Montel Williams.
There is still a lot of trite expressions and graphics being used in the media, like plans that don’t work “Going up in smoke,” and pictures including a pot leaf with a needle and line of cocaine. It will be awhile before that changes.

There is a forum occurring this week (March 23, 2010) in Humboldt County, California between local business people, politicians and those in the Marijuana industry to discuss that county’s economic lifeline: Pot. The meeting centers around the relegalization of Marijuana. Organizer Anna Hamilton, who says she is “Intimately involved” in the Marijuana trade, says there is negative economic impact for those who grow, process and sell pot on the black market due to changing laws. ”I've lived here 20 years and every time there's been a discussion, an open discussion, about marijuana, it has emboldened people to grow more pot with less fear,” she said. “As it's become more widely grown, the prices dropped. The effect on our local economy is harsh.”

In 2009 a study shows $35.8 Billion dollars worth of pot was grown in 2006 in the United States, with California growing $13.6 Billion of that amount. The only way out, Hamilton says, is to “…embrace marijuana tourism, marijuana products and services -- and marijuana has to become a part of the Humboldt County brand,” Hamilton said.

It’s a foregone conclusion that the cost to the consumer upon legalization will be lower than it is now. In the Indianapolis area, an ounce of top quality Marijuana is running about $450-500. After relegalization with tax, it will run about $200-$300, maybe less. But, gone also will be the threat of going to jail, having your property confiscated, losing your job, your home, maybe your children. Gone will be threats of or actual violence over crooked deals and low quality at an outrageous price; organized crime will be dealt a serious blow. Quality will be guaranteed. No more inconvenience in trying to buy. Growers will still be employed, as will retailers. Plus, someone will have to quality test, package, market and transport. While a few jobs might be lost in the transition, more jobs will be available. Police will be free to deal with real crime, keeping us safer. With Hemp, we can end our dependence on fossil fuels, reduce hazardous pesticides to produce clothing, paper and other items. We can have biodegradable plastics, and earthquake-resistant building materials.

By far, relegalization will outpace illegalization…as long as we can control the bureaucracy that will climb on board to suck money off the world’s premier plant.

Sorry to be gone for so long

Been busy working on other things, particularly relegalization of Marijuana.

I'll be adding more content soon.

Meanwhile, On Monday, MSNBC put up a poll on relegalization.I just checked it on Thursday, 13,301 people have voted.13,012 voted to relegalize, or 97.8%. There are 289 demented souls who voted against, for a whopping 2.2%.

Obviously not a proper study, or even a proper poll, but that's a pretty significant number on a spur-of-the-moment poll,

You watching, Obama?