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San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi proposed legislation yesterday to establish medical marijuana dispensaries that would be owned and operated by the City, thereby making our fair city the first in the nation to become a municipal pot dealer. As the Faded Floozy is reporting, Mirkarimi has wanted to do this for a while, essentially making use of state laws legalizing medical marijuana sales in order to set up a pot distribution system for medical marijuana patients of city clinics.
Ever since our new drug-and-porn-friendly Attorney General Eric Holder declared last month that the feds would only go after "those people who violate both federal and state law," it has appeared that California's medical marijuana trade was safe for at least the next four years.
Though Mirkarimi claims that his city-run weed operation wouldn't be stepping on the turf of existing pot clubs, we have to assume that this runs the risk of pissing more than a few of them off should the legislation get anywhere with the Board of Supes and the Mayor. Aren't turf wars the primary reason for all drug violence?
Let's all just hope no one tries to put a cap in Mirkarimi's ass because he's trying to steal their customers.
What do you think of the idea, dear readers? Vote in the Chron's poll here. (We voted for "If they run it like Muni Metro, who'd buy?")
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Until the thick headed goons at the DEA surround the city and start spraying automatic weapons at the freako hippies smoking the dope. You know, because drugs are bad, mmmmkay...
The Chron's article included this hilarious quote from Gavin's press secretary: "The mayor will have to hash this out with public health officials," press secretary Nathan Ballard said. "It's the mayor's job to weed out bad legislation. And to be blunt, this sounds pretty bad."
I sent this idea to Gavin weeks ago via twitter. It not a bad plan. Economic development/Infrustructure development money, homeless services, substance abuse services could all benefit from these revenue streams. They should earmark 51 % of profits to social services.
Seriously, the city can't run anything efficiently. You'd have an overinflated payroll filled with incompetent people so the weed would cost even more than the local pot clubs.
Municipalities should own operations that perform for the common good. Things like fire fighting, police, libraries and in some cases water/power plants make sense.
However, what could we possibly have to gain by running a marijuana dispensery besides exposure to litigation?
Cost subsidization?! Now, I have no problems with folks smoking a little bud just as long as the stank smell doesn't waft into my home. This of course, does NOT mean I'm willing to subsidize your bad habit even if it helps you with your cataracts or anxiety.
This supe is a complete clown.
-mm
Remember selling... weed is ILLEGALin the USA , if you don't like it go to Amsterdam or Pakistan or Jamacia.... get over it. I am not a fan of the law but the city selling weed .... now your high!
Of course, weed is ILLEGAL in both Jamaica *and* Pakistan...but we don't expect you to really have much in the way of facts.
How's the teabagging coming along?
You silly loon....wow your stupider than you seem .. I worked in PAKISTAN and have been to Jamaica , personal consumption is legal and or not prosecuted. You should maybe stop smoking that good Ishtar hash...
Go cry some more, neocon.
crocodile tears
Yeah... I don't get the point of it, either. On the one hand, at least some dispensaries in town (like the one I patronize... often) are very nicely well-run, professional establishments. I feel less sketchy there than I do buying a Diet Coke at Walgreen's. (It's also funny with the fire fighters from next store drop by and hang out.) Assuming they pay their taxes (Weed tax?) and aren't selling heroin out of a backroom, I have no problem with the current, privately-owned dispensary system.
And, uh, what exactly does the City/County run well at all? I can imagine a city-run dispensary with nothing but shake and stale brownies with a bunch of bored and high employees who couldn't tell indica from Indonesia. (With a picture of Ross Mirkarimi on the wall behind them!)
Seriously, graffiti, homelessness, budget shortfalls, the lack of Vietnamese sandwiches in the FiDi, adding more police on the beat, Chris Daly, the crazy ABC/music venue showdown, my lonely heart, and the difficulty of spelling Ross Mirkarimi's last name are all problems I'd rather see the City/County tackle first. Get your head out of your ass, Supervisor Mirkarimi.
Thank you.
wow, good one.
How about the City auctions Dispensary Medallions like the taxi medallion scheme? This could money very quickly for the City's deficit.
Just look at how fast many of the existing clubs ponied up the money for an official permit and for the cost of remodeling to meet handicap accessibility standards.
This isn't a bad idea. The Obama administration isn't bringing charges against dispensaries that are complying with state law, so no. not illegal. Furthermore, it would bring in revenue to the City. I'm all for it.
Q: You want more revenue for SF out of weed?
A: Tax the shit out of it and raise the cost of permits!
All the currently run pot shops need the approval of the city and state govts to avoid running afoul of the feds. This means they need to pay their taxes and have all the necessary permits.
There is no reason for SF to run a dispensary unless a) it's for the common good (like fire fighting, for example)
b) you need to subsidize the cost and share the expenses among all the people.
Guess what? Dispensaries fail both criteria.
Devin's got the right idea. Wanna sell pot (legally) in SF? Buy a permit at auction and give SF it's "taste" of the profits.
-g