Jacob Bell
New Member
Last week, the D.C. Department of Health (DOH) approved several applicants who are in the running for one of the coveted fifteen (15) slots at selling and/or growing marijuana within the District of Columbia. Ten (10) are for selling and five (5) are for growing.
It's been over a year since medical marijuana has become legal in Washington, D.C., and now local officials are trying to work out the kinks. Because the city has legislation that is very strict, many o f the people who were interested in applying, have sense changed their minds.
"D.C. law on medical marijuana is the tightest and strictest in the country," said Bill Piper, Director of National Affairs with the Drug Policy Alliance. He adds that the legislation is so extreme because the U.S. Congress holds the city's purse strings, and unlike California, New Mexico, Montana, the Congress can take away funds at any time.
There seems to be two schools of thought for the people who have made the list: the medical-cannabis veterans who understand policy, and complete novices whose are looking at environmentally sound procedures for cultivation.
The fifty (50) applicants DOH approved ranges from known talk show host Montel Williams, Johnnie Scott Rice, former aide to D.C. Council member David A. Catania (I-At large), a local bartender, two administrative assistants, and an Alexandria man who works in the security business are just a few.
Montel Williams is looking to bring his widely successful non-profit, Abatin Wellness Center, to the east coast. Montel Williams, who has multiple sclerosis and has long supported legalizing medical marijuana, opened Abatin in Sacramento, and it's been dubbed "the Neiman Marcus of Marijuana."
To aid Williams in quest to come to D.C., he has hired veteran lobbyist and longtime Marion Barry lawyer Frederick Cooke Jr. to represent Abatin's interest in the District. Two months ago, Cooke escorted Williams around the Wilson Building to meet local officials. .
Williams wants his potential D.C. location to change perceptions about medical marijuana on Capitol Hill. He agrees with critics who complain that in some parts of the country, loose regulation has turned medical marijuana into little more than state-sanctioned drug dealing.
Michael Lydon, a returning citizen and advocate for prison reform who opposes medical marijuana, said, "If members of the DC Council were really concerned about the sick, the dying, and individual choice, they would let the sick and dying grow their own, rather than charging them for very expensive weed."
Susan Maxwell, a returning citizen who lives in NE DC said, "If a medical dispensary sells weed grown specifically for the purpose, at a cost far below the cost of street sales, then that would open them up to exploitation by street dealers and recreational users, and then would come the push to shut it all down."
"It has gotten out of control and hijacked by people that only want to make some money," Williams said, adding that if there were an Abatin center in the District, "members of Congress can come over and take a look at how this can be done correctly."
"Montel Williams is not wanted in the city, and I'm not interested in him coming into D.C. selling an illegal substance," said Jan Davis, a Georgetown resident.
Davis said she is very concerned about where all of this may lead.
"If cannabis is going to be called medical marijuana then I see things like morphine and oxycodone being called medical heroin?"
"In all seriousness," returning citizen and supporter of medical marijuana Ben Y said, "if you remove the profit motive, this whole illegal and legal pot problem solves itself and people like Jan Davis doesn't have much to say."
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: examiner.com
Author: Reginald Johnson
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Clarity Digital Group LLC
Website: Medical marijuana is nearing the next DC hurdle
It's been over a year since medical marijuana has become legal in Washington, D.C., and now local officials are trying to work out the kinks. Because the city has legislation that is very strict, many o f the people who were interested in applying, have sense changed their minds.
"D.C. law on medical marijuana is the tightest and strictest in the country," said Bill Piper, Director of National Affairs with the Drug Policy Alliance. He adds that the legislation is so extreme because the U.S. Congress holds the city's purse strings, and unlike California, New Mexico, Montana, the Congress can take away funds at any time.
There seems to be two schools of thought for the people who have made the list: the medical-cannabis veterans who understand policy, and complete novices whose are looking at environmentally sound procedures for cultivation.
The fifty (50) applicants DOH approved ranges from known talk show host Montel Williams, Johnnie Scott Rice, former aide to D.C. Council member David A. Catania (I-At large), a local bartender, two administrative assistants, and an Alexandria man who works in the security business are just a few.
Montel Williams is looking to bring his widely successful non-profit, Abatin Wellness Center, to the east coast. Montel Williams, who has multiple sclerosis and has long supported legalizing medical marijuana, opened Abatin in Sacramento, and it's been dubbed "the Neiman Marcus of Marijuana."
To aid Williams in quest to come to D.C., he has hired veteran lobbyist and longtime Marion Barry lawyer Frederick Cooke Jr. to represent Abatin's interest in the District. Two months ago, Cooke escorted Williams around the Wilson Building to meet local officials. .
Williams wants his potential D.C. location to change perceptions about medical marijuana on Capitol Hill. He agrees with critics who complain that in some parts of the country, loose regulation has turned medical marijuana into little more than state-sanctioned drug dealing.
Michael Lydon, a returning citizen and advocate for prison reform who opposes medical marijuana, said, "If members of the DC Council were really concerned about the sick, the dying, and individual choice, they would let the sick and dying grow their own, rather than charging them for very expensive weed."
Susan Maxwell, a returning citizen who lives in NE DC said, "If a medical dispensary sells weed grown specifically for the purpose, at a cost far below the cost of street sales, then that would open them up to exploitation by street dealers and recreational users, and then would come the push to shut it all down."
"It has gotten out of control and hijacked by people that only want to make some money," Williams said, adding that if there were an Abatin center in the District, "members of Congress can come over and take a look at how this can be done correctly."
"Montel Williams is not wanted in the city, and I'm not interested in him coming into D.C. selling an illegal substance," said Jan Davis, a Georgetown resident.
Davis said she is very concerned about where all of this may lead.
"If cannabis is going to be called medical marijuana then I see things like morphine and oxycodone being called medical heroin?"
"In all seriousness," returning citizen and supporter of medical marijuana Ben Y said, "if you remove the profit motive, this whole illegal and legal pot problem solves itself and people like Jan Davis doesn't have much to say."
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: examiner.com
Author: Reginald Johnson
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Clarity Digital Group LLC
Website: Medical marijuana is nearing the next DC hurdle
