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Maine Votes to Legalize Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

By Jeralyn, Section Elections
Posted on Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 11:57:55 PM EST
Tags: medical marijuana (all tags)
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Maine is now the third state to legalize medical marijuana dispensaries.

In a landmark vote, Maine voters today approved Question 5, making the state the third in the country to license nonprofit organizations to provide medical marijuana to qualified patients and the first ever to do so by a vote of the people.

...Under the measure, the state will license nonprofit organizations to provide medical marijuana to qualified patients and set rules for their operation. While 13 states permit medical use of marijuana, only Rhode Island and New Mexico have similar dispensary provisions, both of which were adopted by the states’ legislatures....Question 5 also expands the list of medical conditions qualifying for protection under Maine’s law to include several conditions that are included in most other medical marijuana states, including intractable pain, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (“Lou Gehrig’s disease”).

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Maine is the first state in the country where voters, as opposed to a legislature, approved licensed dispensaries. But, why should they have to be non-profit? Pharmacies and drug companies make money. If Endo, the maker of Percodan, which is illegal to possess without a prescription, can make a profit, shouldn't medical marijuana providers/growers also be allowed to make money?

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    Maine Votes to Legalize Medical Marijuana Dispensaries | 8 comments (8 topical)

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    Oregon is opening its first Marijuana bar (none / 0) (#1)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:22:59 AM EST
    "rumpsmacker" or something like that. A place where people who are approved for medical marijuana can go to buy and smoke. Similar to a coffee house. It looks great.

    Seems to me that Oregon is ahead of the country on numerous topics.

    Here's a picture I took of one in Amsterdam (none / 0) (#2)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:42:18 AM EST
    in 2006, it was very civilized. Here are the wares.

    Parent
    Exactly as it should be (none / 0) (#6)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 06:20:18 PM EST
    This issue is so difficult to understand. I believe marijuana is really effective with glaucoma patients, too. It relieves the pressure.

    Parent
    The non-profit... (none / 0) (#3)
    by kdog on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:14:13 AM EST
    aspect is pretty lame...imagine if somebody actually proposed a similar requirement for pharmacuetical companies, they'd be on a McCarthy-esque commie watchlist faster than you can say Mao.

    Actually, I think pharma (none / 0) (#7)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 06:21:20 PM EST
    should be non-profit. Doesn't mean they can't still pay well. All medical should be non-profit.


    Parent
    hey,hey (none / 0) (#8)
    by diogenes on Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 03:40:56 AM EST
    All you liberals want to have a single payor health system, which would basically be nonprofit.  I would think that you'd love this nonprofit idea for dispensaries.

    Parent
    One step at a time, kdog.... (none / 0) (#4)
    by jbindc on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:27:54 AM EST


    I hear ya... (none / 0) (#5)
    by kdog on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:31:25 AM EST
    luckily for the sick in Maine, I'm sure there will be no shortage of growers willing to do it for free...there are always the fringe benefits:)

    Parent
    Maine Votes to Legalize Medical Marijuana Dispensaries | 8 comments (8 topical)

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