With 23 states having legalized the use of medical marijuana, many marijuana dispensaries are available throughout the country to distribute to patients in need of the substance. However, it wasn’t long ago that many states were still attempting to establish their stores. Medical marijuana dispensaries have quite a history in the few years since they were first established.
The Beginning Of Dispensaries
In the mid to late 2000’s, California was the first of the states to begin the process of legal marijuana dispensaries. Longtime activist Dennis Peron lead the way, due to his experience working with HIV patients who used the substance. Other activists joined the cause and started setting up “buyer’s collectives,” which eventually became medical dispensaries for marijuana. These locations were meant as a meeting area for caregivers and patients to exchange marijuana. For the first time since the beginning of the marijuana prohibition, patients were able to obtain their medicine legally in various locations. However, this progress was halted by the Clinton administration.
A Revival Of Dispensaries
By the time 2009 ended, there were more than 1,000 local dispensaries operating in Los Angeles. However, crime and gang involvement began at this time in California, giving a bad name to dispensaries in the city. Oakland stepped up for patients in the area, adopting a legal permit for stores in the area. Patients could legally obtain medicine safely at this time.
Meanwhile, in Colorado, the marijuana business began thriving. Residents in the area were more familiar with the business aspect of running the dispensaries, making them safer and the transactions, smoother. By the beginning of 2010, the number of legal marijuana dispensaries was greater than the number of Starbucks locations. Before long, San Francisco, Berkeley, Sebastopol, and West Hollywood followed suit. These events helped to start the spread of legalization in the United States, continuing to effect state after state.
Today
Many congressional representatives are on the fence about legalization in their areas. Legalization of medical marijuana in all states would end up imposing taxes similar to those imposed on cigarettes and alcohol. According to a study by the Cato Institute, these taxes would lead to huge economic gains for state governments and the economy. The study also found that the money used to regulate marijuana use and maintain incarceration of offenders would also be saved. In spite of state governments legalizing this substance, the DEA continues to raid dispensaries and the Federal government continues to prosecute individuals operating them; however, the voice of the medical marijuana community continues to grow and be heard, pushing the movement for legalization forward.
