Much has been in the news (and rightfully so) this past weekend about the 2 deaths involving robberies at two medical marijuana collectives.   First I give my sincere condolences to the family members who suffered this tragic loss.

I do want to put patients at ease and explain that these isolated incidents are just that.   Although there are some dispensaries located in areas that I would never personally go, there are plenty in areas where I would send my Mother without thinking about it.  Most operate very peacefully day after day.

It’s interesting because I live in Orange County and bank with Chase Bank.  Recently they upgraded their entire inside to put in 2 inch bullet proof glass in front of all the tellers.  Prior to that there was no glass at all.   When I spoke to the bank manager about it she mentioned that they had 5 attempted robberies in the past year at that one location and were finally getting the security that they needed.  Now I live down the block from this bank and hear NOTHING in the news about these incidents… yet law enforcement is sticking by their guns saying dispensaries are very dangerous and bring crime into the neighborhoods.    Although it is inevitable that you will have some crime at any location that has cash on hand… dispensaries have not introduced crime into areas like people think.  That is a perception that law enforcement wants the public to believe.   Banks attract FAR MORE criminals than dispensaries.

I do believe that they need to sit down and create some very reasonable ordinances for collectives to peacefully serve our patients.   However the cities seem to be swinging 180 degrees in the opposite direction and creating bans versus thoughtfully listening to collective owners and creating a plan that makes sense.

As more and more places close their doors the black market is going to grow larger.  California could practically “weed out” the black market dealers if they set up some clear guidelines for dispensaries (collectives) to exist.