Is Medical Marijuana an Oxymoron?

It has now been 13 years since California voters approved the nation's first initiative allowing the "compassionate use" of marijuana for medical ailments. Approval of this proposition was one of the finest scams in California history. For all practical purposes, the proposition should have just allowed the unlimited use of marijuana in California.

Marijuana "clinics" are seldom regulated. Anyone that walks in with the most flimsy excuse can purchase marijuana. The result has been an explosion of unregulated marijuana outlets across the state. And make no mistake that the objective of these "clinics/outlets" is profit, not compassion for an individual suffering pain from a medical condition.

The current economic recession in California is providing new impetus for the newest and potentially biggest scam: Expand marijuana outlets, tax them, and then use tax receipts to plug the giant hole in California's budget. Wow! What a great idea! The now rejected "compassionate" excuse for selling marijuana has cleverly morphed into the "more money for local and state purposes by taxing marijuana" gambit. Oh, so clever. The more marijuana sold, the more taxes collected to save the Golden State from financial ruin.

It is interesting to compare conservative Fresno's struggle against marijuana outlets with the more liberal hands-off policy in Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles has gone from four marijuana outlets four years ago to more than 600 shops today. It's like having a friendly Starbucks on every corner. Los Angeles, however, is having big-time second thoughts about this proliferation of marijuana outlets. It will be interesting to watch how this plays out.

In the meantime, I still support (as I did when on the City Council) the approach taken by Police Chief Jerry Dyer that marijuana outlets in Fresno only add to the challenges of maintaining a safe and pleasant city. Fresno is no different than any other city in California in its challenges navigating the fiscal uncertainties of this recession. What we don't need, however, are additional tax revenues from marijuana "clinics/outlets."

Coming Soon. . .

1. The serious implications of being a high school drop out.
2. The James J. Craycroft home: A story of neglect.

Comments are welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail me at abriancalhoun@gmail.com.