With just one month remaining until the historic vote on November 2nd for Proposition 19, a ballot initiative to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for anyone 21 and over, there are many people speaking out both for and against it. I have over the past 6 month blogged about why I think it is a poorly written proposition that won’t come close to accomplishing what it is intending. However, recently I have given more and more thought to voting yes for this proposition. REGARDLESS, THE FACE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS GOING TO CHANGE DRAMATICALLY IF THIS PASSES. READ ON….

Currently in California there is very little over site and regulation on the growing of medical marijuana. This is mostly because it is still illegal to grow marijuana Federally and growers do want to bring any unwanted attention to themselves. Until California steps up and protects it’s medical marijuana growers patients are never going to have the protection they need to insure that their medicine is free of molds, insects and pesticides. This is a major problem for patients! READ ON…

If you are a medical marijuana patient (proposition 215) and are wondering how proposition 19 will change things I want to make a few points for you to think about.

1. Only patients with recommendations will be allowed to get medicine from current dispensaries. They will not be allowed to sell marijuana for recreational use.

As medical director for medical cannabis of southern california I have dedicated my professional life to evaluating patients to use cannabis legally for medicinal purposes. For the past two and a half years I have taken care of thousands of patients who qualify under CA Proposition 215 and helped them find relief from whatever ailment they suffer from. It has been an incredible journey and each day I am inspired by my patients stories of healing and humbled by their suffering. I truly feel honored and blessed to have this opportunity each day.

Much has been in the news (and rightfully so) this past weekend about the 2 deaths involving robberies at w 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.

I just got off the phone with an attorney who is representing one of my patients where local law enforcement raided his property where he was cultivating for personal use with one other patient and is being charged a bunch of crimes. She was pretty shocked about how willing I was to come down to San Diego and testify on his behalf. I told her it was a no-brainer. I have all the documentation including his medical records and can easily explain to the court why he qualifies as a legal patient. I asked her if she has had any issues with doctors coming to testify on behalf of her clients and she replied “the last case I had the doctor REFUSED to come and testify and when we ultimately sent him a subpoena he said he had medical issues and COULD NOT COME TO COURT”

As voters head to the polls this November to decide on whether or not to make the recreational use of cannabis legal for anyone 21 and over they will need to decide whether this is something that will benefit the State of California and more importantly our families.

Often patients ask me if I think Tax and Regulate is going to pass on the November ballot and what I think about it. The anser to those questions are:

1. I have no idea if it will pass. And if it does I believe that there will be ton of lawsuits contesting it and it will not go into law anytime soon.

Tax and Regulate 2010 is a initiative being placed on the November ballot which would essentially legalize cannabis up to 1 ounce for personal use (RECREATIONAL AND MEDICINAL) for 21 years old and over. From what I understand, cities will still be able to determine whether or not it is legal in their particular city. There are restrictions about not using it in public or in the presence of a minor (<21y/o).