Time to get real about RI dispensaries.

My friend Tamorin, a frequent citizen of this forum, has asked me to repeat some of the comments I had when we talked recently concerning how we might form a better concept for dispensaries, one that we might have half a chance of implementing anytime in the near future.
We have to address the fact that dispensaries as they are conceived, and supposedly subject to approval here in Rhode Island are not viable.
The Federal Government can seem sleepy and slow, but when someone pokes in the right place, you will discover that they defend their laws without any sense of humor or compassion. The Governor of Rhode Island has good reason to not push his luck.
There are two things that the Federal Government will not ignore; anyone growing over 100 marijuana plants is committing a felony, period. And of course, even if they let you get away with having dispensaries, the Federal Government will not allow you to make a profit. By this I mean, you cannot make an investment in in a dispensary and expect to receive in return, a profit or a loss. You can pay your employees and your business expenses, but at year's end you have to end up with a profit on your sales of zero. This is not how things are set up in RI.
Currently, we have proposed dispensaries growing large quantities of plants on site, while the principals involved in the dispensaries, already approved, estimate millions of dollars of profit for the dispensaries in only a few years.
The Feds just will not let this stand.
Don't think for a moment that the Feds are manageable and not a threat.
They are capable of going Bat Shit Crazy if they feel challenged.

So what solution to this situation?
Go around the problem.
What I would propose, is a variation of what already exists.
Set up dispensaries in every major community that will allow them, and rather than growing their medicine themselves, let the caregivers that already exist sell their overage to the various dispensaries. A caregiver might decide to only grow and sell to a dispensary, or they might have several clients, but occasionally have a bountiful harvest and the need to reduce the amount of medicinal product they have on hand.
This would eliminate the problem of mass cultivation that the Feds object to so much, as well as diversify the dispensaries sources.
We might have to amend the current law to allow this, but it builds on what we already have, and reduces the Federal liability for the State of Rhode Island.
And as hard as this might be to achieve here in RI, we need a system where no one gets to "dip their beak" or make a little on the side.
There are jobs to be had out of this as well, and making those jobs legitimate is good for the economy and by extension, the rest of our society as well.

Just a thought
YaJah

I like the idea. It's good to look at things from a diffrent angle. I'm going to think about this for a few hours and get back to it. But yeah staying below 100 at one location would avoid a big problem.

stay small. keep to yourself. tell no one. let those with deep pockets run the cc's. if your not rich and connected you will get shit on by the state and the DEA. why ask for trouble?

Hey guys. I really like your idea, but from personal expience in being a caregiver for only a month, I have already met so many medical patients that needs medicined that I don't know how you could possibly supply that many people. Assuming all dispensaries open up that were selected, I'm not sure if they would even be able to supply the public for the first few months until they have a solid system. We need to do medical co-ops. Rent out a space, and get full led or florescent lighting for no heat signs or electricity usage, and grow ourselves until other states begin to legalize marijuana. I foresee in the future the government letting states decide about medical marijuana, not govern it themselves. If there were 5-7 of us working part time in a co-op, we would have a ball and be safe. If we could do this at someone elses house, that would be even more safer, and the house holder would get a larger share. It's a little more juvinile and requires less organizing than submitting a shorter business plan into our health care system and possibly get rejected without professional help.

co-ops bring you into unclear territory that are just asking for trouble. as far as your suggestion on a led or flouro medical grow......please read up my friend. I would suggest.....focus on hps lighting. focus on controlling your environment. obtain the best genetics you can. that means reading on forums such are icmag and thcfarmer so can gain access to seeds from boutique breeders who make quality gear in smalls batches. read read read......

clones are fun but seeds come with no pests

Icmag I've been on. It's like the unknown good forumn.

I was with someone from Slater yesterday, you guys have no idea what a hurdle it will be to get them actually operating if they even get the go ahead to open, let alone get the legislature through to allow the c/g's to sell them their excess. It's ridiculous. We're talking years before there is any REAL (meaning successful at supplying the state) program in RI

Tam- Icmag is pretty much the biggest, oldest, heaviest knowledge base out there. RIU is my home, don't get me wrong, but if you really need high end help,....

and on the flip side, avoid Grasscity. Loaded with misinformation.

I like RIU because of the nice balance. There's talent and knowledge but not so much that you get overwhelmed and feel you need a phd to keep up. I feel there's much more personality here too.

Yeah its gonna be along road. The one thing about politics,Never fast, easy or common sense orintated. My opinion on the 99 plant count would set aside one of the issues with the feds, granted there are many that would solve one. Alot of new people comming out more and more Lbh, I feel like all the patient groups are gonna be exploding very soon. TO ALL NEW PATIENTS/CAREGIVERS get active atleast blog about things that matter to you, To be honest It give me a sense of how many of us are really out there. Tamo

Politics SUCK!
There idea of staying under 99 plants is obvious, that is the way DC set up their system, in the feds backyard. RI needs a lot more than 3 centers for many reason the largest being supply
The law as it is now states each patient can be dispensed up to 2.5oz every 14 days, so if you do the math we have about 4K patients in the state that is 10,000oz every 14 days. It is insane to think you can produce that much in only 3 places with it being considered a “commercial cultivation center” which has always (including the Ogden memo) been considered a target for the feds.
I also think that 3 centers does not allow for enough competitive pricing.
The idea of caregivers selling extra to the centers to try to help the lack of supply issue is great on the surface, but it has a HUGE flaw. The caregiver is selling it, which means he is getting income. now I’m not sure the IRS will not like anyone getting income they can’t tax, and the state will also want a piece of the pie. Leading to a HUGE mess, I am sure no one wants to get into.
There would also have to be tons of testing by the compassion centers to make sure everything they buy meats the “medical grade” criteria. Mold, mites, pesticides and other contaminants would have to be screened for. Giving the compassion centers another excuse to drive up the prices.
I am not sure what the answer is but as long as the feds have it listed as a class 1 narcotic it will be difficult to find a way to ensure every patient an adequate supply of medication. In the mean time, I think expanding on the gifting program in some way might help.
As far as the Governor, he has no right to stop the process. His job is to uphold STATE law not federal law. If the awarded compassion centers and those involved with them want to take the risk of dealing with the feds, it is theirs to take.

A lot of great points and disccusions n here fellas. Glad to be surrounded by such intelligent well spoken people.

I agree that it is up to the growers to make a push, even if we aren't the ones who need centers. When I got my card I saw an old man who was happy to be getting his but still didn't know where to get med's. I bet even when he does get some it won't be quality.

As Tamo said, blogging/writing is probably a good idea. I think if people had a chance to understand things from a different perspective then maybe it would catch on. We are at a good point for mmj legislation in the USA, however some states out west seem kind of arrogant twoards the government and their laws. It puts a label on the program nationwide I think. (As far as the fed's and their sheep portray the whole thing.)

I have no doubt someone could come up with a fairly legal underground loophole. I also don't doubt that a center WOULD take the risk of opening if the Chaffee did something to move this forward. But on the other hand I have a feeling the fed's aren't bluffing on this one and he might be feeling the same.

I really like the writing idea - if people other than us would listen then we'd be in business. I have a feeling once the concenus understands why we do this then there will be a whole new perception about it. Everyone in the world has someone they know who could benefit from mmj, I guarentee.

Bud

I feel as if Rhode Island is approaching the entire idea of medical marijuana too passively. If this was any other country, and they had the same number of passionate people as we do, heads would be on sticks. We need to start attending more meetings, or even start forming meetings. As long as no medicine is brought, (or brought under the table), we could form as we please. I am sure someone in here has a large enough residence and would be more than willing to host such events to the selected public. I know how some feel about RIPAC meetings, but if enough of us showed up with a same mind-set, I am sure we could even use their meeting places as our own discussion centers. We need to come up with ways to efficiently supply more and more patients while being safe from any FED radar. More and more ideas will come to mind as we gather and discuss; especially if medicine is involved.

I dont understand.....everyone thinks they are gonna be a crusader and get "meds" out to the people. you gonna get fucked by shady patient/caregivers and local and federal dea. keep to yourself and be happy you have a card.

NECC has meetings the first thursday of every month at the spot underground, 15 elbow st prov

Looking forward to their next meeting.

so are there any legit dispensary's in ri or not ?

3 dispensaries approved but Gov is holding them from opening

you mean federal govermet or govner of ri ? how can they be aproved if the govner is opposed ? from the previous term ?

We passed the law, ri approved 3 dispensaries. Application process went thru, 3 were selected. A week b4 they opened the us dist atty for RI sent a letter to the gov saying if we open, they are coming so the Gov put the openings on hold till the gov's from the legal states could get together and discuss the best move for their state, Well, they met, some states stepped up right away like NJ,....some still haven't done shit,....like RI. It's a sore subject as the Gov claims to be protecting the involved entities yet the involved entities are screaming at him to not protect them. We just want the guy to do the job we pay him for, uphold RI law.