UPDATE: City zoners Monday night delayed action on an application for a medical marijuana dispensary in the North End. Brian Lockhart, CT Post has more here.
Background: A proposed medical marijuana dispensary is not receiving the welcome mat from several community leaders including City Councilwoman Michelle Lyons who opposes application for a clinic serving the chronically sick at the Merritt Medical Center, 3715 Main Street, in the heart of the North End business district. Lyons says she’s not opposed to marijuana for medicinal purposes, but opposes the location. “I have found that this site is within one thousand feet of Sheridan School and within five hundred feet of two licensed day care centers,” she explained to OIB in an email. “The entrance and rear parking lot exit to this medical building, go directly into residential neighborhoods.”
A public hearing is scheduled before city zoners Jan. 13 for an application brought by Karen Barski (and her business partner Angela D’Amico), a registered nurse who operates a Bridgeport-based infant-care business. Conceptually the proposal has the support of Mayor Bill Finch and city development chief David Kooris, but the location is opposed by Lyons and City Council President Tom McCarthy. Sacred Heart University has also weighed in against the proposed location.
Last month Lyons, who says she has researched the issue extensively, sent a letter to her North End constituents explaining her position.
Here are a couple of examples of some medical facilities that are located down the street from my house and their repercussions: I live at 91 Jewett Avenue and there are three types medical buildings located down the street from my house and around the corner. At the end of my street is a State run Methadone Clinic and downstairs from this location is a Clinic for children. This Methadone clinic has drawn all types of issues to the surrounding area. On many days you will see cars parked all along Jewett Avenue in front of my home and the neighbors. The parking where the Methadone Clinic you will find people hanging out and looking for drugs. In the parking lot and along my street you will find syringes and empty drug bags.
On Main Street around the corner from Jewett is a Womens Summit which people hold protest signs regarding certain issues. The problem with these medical buildings located in the surrounding area is that it affects our children. There are children that walk back and forth to different schools in the surrounding area and should not have to deal with these adult issues at young age and on a daily basis.
I do not have an issue with the use of any kind of medicinal purposes being used to help the sick and dying. I personally am a Breast Cancer survivor and unfortunately experienced the slow death of my sister a year ago with little to help her pain. This is not the issue at hand but the location. The problem here is that the facility will be dispersing marijuana in an area that surrounds residential homes and affects our children.
Michael Kinney, senior vice president for Finance and Administration at Sacred Heart University that has had a long contentious relationship with the North End involving student partying, opposes the proposal in a letter to Zoning Administrator Dennis Buckley. SHU proper is located on Park Avenue in Fairfield, but adjacent dormitories and several other SHU-owned properties are located across the street in Bridgeport.
Our stance on this issue in no way reflects a lack of confidence in our students. On the contrary, we believe that housing a marijuana dispensary so close to campus and to their homes creates a risk of attracting individuals to the neighborhood who may try to steal or buy drugs from dispensary patrons.
Unfortunately, anecdotal evidence suggests that these types of establishments tend to attract users who are interested in drugs for other than medicinal reasons.
Some tenants in the medical building also oppose the proposal. Barski told the Connecticut Post that she hopes “they understand we are treating individuals with life-threatening terminal illnesses, not criminals. And they should be treated as any other patient in Connecticut.”
Angela D’Amico, Barski’s partner in the proposed venture, tells OIB some of the concerns are based on lack of information.
Karen and I feel very strongly about the need to help terminally ill patients with the amazing results of Medical Marijuana, what we call “Miracle Marijuana.”
We feel it a disservice and blatant ignorance that there is opposition from Michael Kinney @ SHU, Michelle Lyons and various coop owners in Merritt Medical Building. The opposition comes from lack of knowledge.
It only take a minute to view the outstanding results cancer patients are getting with this treatment, also children suffering from seizure disorders, at 5 years old experiencing 300 seizures a week, becoming seizure free after one treatment of cannabis. The stories are endless and we are preparing our public hearing so that the public will be educated about this medicine. Knowledge is power and the opposition is coming from a lack of knowledge.
How can Medical Marijuana be compared with Heroin? Pure uninformed ignorance. Medical Marijuana is just that, Medical “Medicine” for 10 approved diseases in CT. It is not approved for recreational use, why would this dispensary be any different than a CVS. CVS dispenses Oxycontin and Oxycodone, which is the number one abused prescription drug in our country, and there are many CVS’s and other pharmacies in the North End of Bridgeport.
Where are the patients rights? Why cant terminally ill patients be treated and healed with this amazing medicine.
When penicillin was invented it was laughed at “how can a mold save lives,” where would we be if the same opposition was placed on penicillin.
The state is expected to announce a limited number of licensed dispensaries for Connecticut in January. Barski says she will scout other potential areas to host a facility in case her zoning proposal fails.
Is the opposition for the Bridgeport proposal based on ignorance or is the location concern justified? Shouldn’t medical marijuana patients be treated as any other? What say you?
The closer to an SHU dorm the better. If you keep the students stoned all the time, they won’t be trashing the North End drunk as much. Bridgeport City Council should ADVERTISE it–to help SHU with student recruitment. It is a way of saying thank you to SHU and the school’s outstanding contributions to the community.
Studies from other states show that crime statistics actually improved in areas with MMJ facilities, due to factors like in-depth requirements, high-end security protocol, direct police relationships, verification procedures, and diversion away from black-market sources. Also noting that police costs and pressures were lowered. MMJ = lower crime rates, lower public health costs, and relieved police workload pressure and costs.
A ‘John Tasker’ has logged in and posted responses to anyone who had doubts about medical marijuana dispensaries. Given his detailed postings, perhaps ‘John Tasker’ will disclose his background and if he has a vested interest in this business.
A quick Google search finds Tasker’s bio on his website. See for yourself.
www .greenrushconsulting.com/#!green-rush-consulting/cr34
Hi, and thanks!
First and foremost, I’d like to establish a few things I may have not addressed initially.
Of course there are concerns. This is a new program, with a lot of unanswered questions. Certain states have better or worse track records with MMJ, and it certainly stands to reason citizens should be concerned. Your elected officials, along with local business interests (and those everywhere) work extremely hard trying to do what is best for their communities and companies respectively, and this effort should be acknowledged as such.
Please do not interpret anything I say as an attempt to convince, flood or undermine any person(s) with concerns, worries, or questions. I want to thank and encourage anyone wishing to improve or preserve their town, regardless of their stance on an issue.
It is with that same respect I choose to comment without anonymity, and wish not to ‘plug’ or advertise for any project, regardless of the fact I do this as an independent entity, not currently being compensated in any way, and with no ongoing vested interest in this discussed entity or story other than an altruistic wish to help respond to questions, and generally help improve the perception of MMJ.
What will ultimately be best for your community is not up to me. Not everyone will find Cannabis appealing as an entity or as a medical answer. I only wish to respectfully acknowledge and address those concerned citizens with references to current scientific and social research, which reflects the potential positive benefit from MMJ programs, when properly integrated. The purpose of a well-executed MMJ plan is to benefit the community.
If there are certain zoning or sensitive site issues that need to be addressed with regards to any business, certainly the required site changes or exemptions should be executed to the extent of satisfactory compliance.
About me:
I am an independent MMJ consultant, and work with a firm on an ongoing, consistent basis. These comments or replies are in no way affiliated with, or related to any nature of my business or affiliated interests.
I helped develop certain components of this proposed operational plan. My fee has long expired, and I usually find these articles on my own time as what I consider a public service. I generally only wish to make a positive impact in any community, including my own, where I am also active in ongoing circumstances.
It would be unrealistic to expect this blog to affect any board, commission or panel decision regarding any applicant. I only wish to try to help inform the concerned or curious parties on this site to the best of my ability, based on what is being seen in other parts of the country or world, good and bad.
In 2004 (at barely 20 years old), I was involved in a motorcycle crash that shattered two vertebra and detached a number of ribs from my spine. I’ll never be without pain again, but doctors say “at least you can still walk. You got lucky.”
After a year of pharmaceutical drugs, my problem was actually getting worse. The simple truth is my body wasn’t enjoying the chemicals it was receiving, and responded negatively. I spent most of my time fairly uncomfortable on a couch, waiting for kidney or liver issues to eventually develop and make life even more fun.
Through a friend I was eventually convinced to try Cannabis. (I had tried it as recreation, and at the time would have honestly preferred a beer…) At first I was overwhelmed, and didn’t enjoy the feeling, although the pain was much more bearable. After my tolerance levels increased and I learned more about appropriate usage concepts, my condition improved dramatically. Now almost 10 years have passed, and I have accrued some matter of knowledge, which I believe to be (although controversial) positive to those who may benefit from it. The rest is history. I am out of time again for this discussion, and truly appreciate your community engages in your democracy.
Thanks to all of you, and good night.
I am not really against medical marijuana for the terminally ill however I see this going the way it goes in California. Everyone with an ass ache gets a doctor to write a prescription for pot and before you know it the city is overrun with pot heads.
CT IS NOT CA: We cannot compare these very different programs at all. Qualifying patients/condition requirements, ongoing care physician requirements, govt. involvement, number of dispensary licenses, operations, etc. are all tightly controlled in CT, whereas in CA vastly greater numbers of people (millions more) qualify for MMJ, and there generally aren’t limits on the number of providers in any area (other than moratoriums). Also, one cannot compare a fully comprehensive 200+ pg. proposal, with one of the most detailed and scrutinized application processes of nearly any business/industry on Earth, with the ‘Wild-West,’ unregulated system of CA, or with any other business–they are simply too far apart in nature.
Andy, where the hell have you been? The city has been overrun with potheads for yeeeaaars. What do you expect to come out of a Capitol overrun by cokeheads for years?
If anyone (a Hispanic in the East Side or an African American in the East End) conspired to distribute marijuana as openly as these people have been doing, they wouldn’t last four months in business. I spoke against the last application, which was rejected 4-5. I stated the only place this type of business transaction should be allowed is in and by a pharmacy. The applicants’ attorney stated during rebuttal not one pharmacy was interested in dispensing marijuana. He didn’t venture as to the reason why this is the case. It’s illegal under federal law. Where is Billy Chase when he is needed?
alexandriafederalattorney.com/alexandria-virginia-federal-criminal-defense-lawyer/federal-united-states-drug-distribution-conspiracy-charges/
Joel, now I don’t mean to burst your bubble knowing you are a legal beagle, but this article makes no reference whatsoever, nor does it apply to any federal ruling regarding legally prescribed medical marijuana. Not one word of it applies to whatever case you are making.
Connecticut MMJ dispensary centers will be required to operate with stringent procedural, zoning, and operational protocol–in fact, licensed pharmacists are required as part of an MMJ business plan in CT. Many of the CT guidelines are based directly or indirectly on pharmacy regulations.
Most pharmacy chains are: a) owned by large scale public or private companies, generally with long-term and high-volume involvement with pharmaceutical companies. Their delicate position with regard to political, monetary, and federal regulations makes MMJ less appealing during these phases of public integration.
It might also interest you to know that the US government has awarded a patent to a pharmaceutical company based on THC, and that synthetic versions of THC are already being used in hospitals, and are available in pharmacies. The only inherent difference is that the synthetic version can be extremely physically dangerous, similar to most pharmaceuticals, whereas natural Cannabis is not.
Connecticut MMJ dispensary centers will be required to operate with stringent procedural, zoning, and operational protocol–in fact, licensed pharmacists are required as part of an MMJ business plan in CT. Many of the CT guidelines are based directly or indirectly on pharmacy regulations.
Most pharmacy chains are owned by large-scale public or private companies, generally with long-term and high-volume involvement with pharmaceutical companies. Their delicate position with regard to political, monetary, and federal regulations makes MMJ less appealing during these phases of public integration. Not to mention that their existing locations likely do not comply with CT regs, and that their layout and protocol would also need alteration.
Note however that:
1. a US-based group is currently initiating operations in Canada for a Canna-based pharmaceutical type firm,
2. the US government has awarded a medical patent to an NY pharmaceutical company based on THC, and
3. that synthetic versions of THC are already being used in hospitals, and are available in pharmacies.
The only inherent difference is that the synthetic version can be extremely physically dangerous, similar to most pharmaceuticals, whereas natural Cannabis is not.
The opposition to medical marijuana is based on ignorance. Alcoholics can buy alcohol 7 days a week. There are pharmacies every few blocks and grocery stores. Marijuana and all drugs can be purchased nearly everywhere in the City. A dispensary that has government controls is fine by me around the corner on Main street. This is not as severe as a methadone clinic or even the abortion clinic. Personally, I find individuals standing in front of the clinics with posters an abomination … marijuana should have been legalized years ago. MEDICINAL MARIJUANA is no different from getting a prescription for some serious drugs … you know, the ones the kids steal from their parents. Mr. Callahan, your anti-Sacred Heart rant and assumption they would be buying the drug is embarrassing to the City, the school and yourself. Although my council woman is against the proposal, I couldn’t disagree with her more. The dispensary would be no different from a pharmacy and to think any different is ridiculous. Personally, I support it.
I may be ignorant, but I’m not stupid enough to post something like this: “at 5 years old experiencing 300 seizures a week, becoming seizure free after one treatment of cannabis.”
D’Amico and Barski don’t give a damn about the suffering of patients. They just want to profit off their pain and suffering. The State of Connecticut is the first to get paid as the patients have to pay a fee to participate. Before the patients get a joint in their hands they have to shell out a few hundred dollars. Cut out the middlewoman and get your weed from Lennie Greenmaldi, either way it’s illegal. At least Lennie Greenmaldi doesn’t sell to 5-year-old kids.
Yes Joel, you are in fact just that–ignorant. Selling it to a 5-year-old, not quite. Obviously the child’s parents and doctor saw a medical need for it, and it worked when everything else failed.
After smoking a joint there’d better be no Godiva around.
Joel–please commit time to more research.
There are documented cases, with no shortage of similar stories. Some things, as much as we don’t like to hear them, are simply medical truth.
Yes the state will charge registration fees, there are administrative costs to account for, just like any other program. I too would prefer states adopt policy that lets patients grow at home, and in time perhaps CT will adopt such guidelines. I also understand though, this is a new program to CT, and they don’t want an even bigger mess on their hands.
I don’t see any threat at all for the neighborhood. I have seen a lot of people smoking pot and they do not exhibit the crime or boisterous behavior exhibited by cocaine, crack, heroin addicts or binge college drinkers, not at all. Contrary to that, it provides a service and will fill up these rapidly vacated medical office buildings and preserve Bridgeport’s tax base.
I completely agree. If Ms. Lyons herself is a survivor and personally witnessed cancer ravage her family member, then she, above all people, should do some compassionate research before going on a no-holds-barred mission to rile up the neighborhood. There is no logical comparison of a medical marijuana dispensary to a methadone clinic, and it makes good sense to house it in a medical building. How many physicians in that same building are writing prescriptions on a daily basis for opiates and barbituates, which are not only addictive but have the propensity for overdose? How hypocritical is that? Has anyone ever heard of someone overdosing on marijuana? Why not just shutter the doors of the local liquor stores as well? They too dispense alcohol, which is also a drug so to speak. Most importantly, it’s cruel to deny patients suffering from painful and devastating disease the opportunity to obtain relief. It is their legal right to obtain medical marijuana. All the primitive opposition needs to do is start thinking with compassion rather than injecting their own personal feelings into the equation. Just a note on the SHU students, it’s absurd to think they will be lurking around that medical building looking to buy marijuana from patients, it’s safe to say they have their own suppliers right on campus.
Why is it all the people applying for the right to dispense marijuana aren’t using their residence as the distribution location? You all want to compare the illegal trade of all drugs with the dispensing of Medicinal Marijuana, you folks are being ignorant too. Have any of you ever read of people’s houses being raided due to drug activity? They shouldn’t worry about anyone lurking around their home looking to buy from them or patients, right? Why did the state rule out allowing these folks (the terminally ill) to grow their own? Anything for a buck! It’s all about the money for the state, the growers and the dispensers. I don’t see the law prohibits terminally ill people from out of state coming here to buy. Is this the case? If so, more money to be made. If not, isn’t that as cruel “to deny patients suffering from painful and devastating disease the opportunity to obtain relief?” I was going to mention “Dronabinol” but BOE SPY who is as “ignorant” as I am has posted the link. Read it! I’m for legalizing marijuana but my “ignorance” (forget logic and intuition) tells me many of the marijuana dealers will find other drugs to sell and illegal means to make a living as the government will tax it and regulated it in a way as bad or worse than Connecticut does. If this does happen, I hope the former MJ dealers who decide to commit burglaries or steal cars break into Godiva’s and Steve’s house every month, steal their car every two weeks, and have their buddies sell their new product in front of their home or business.
And this my friends is how ignorance spreads. I am very concerned about the drug dealers upgrading their inventory to better drugs once marijuana is legalized and very concerned when they let 100s of thousands out of prison for possession of this evil weed while mothers are drunk driving their kids to school and leaving a bar, getting on the highway and killing someone. Cancer-producing cigarettes are legal–alcohol is legal and all they are looking to do is legalize “medicinal” marijuana. GET WITH THE PROGRAM!!!
Joel, it’s time for another dose of your meds, whatever they may be. Your attempts at creating reasonable facsimiles are just so pointless, not to mention erroneous and irrelevant. Do some research and you’ll find out that pill does not cover the broad spectrum of treatment as well as medical marijuana.
Again, light research would answer your questions.
Illegal ‘Pot’ dealers will see some impact from these dispensaries, as many of their clients are likely non-qualifiers for CT MMJ. They will lose their legitimately qualifying in-need patient customers, who will now qualify for safer, regulated, taxed, researched relief. There will also be more funding for police and anti-drug abuse programs, in fact dispensaries in CT have submitted “Substance Abuse” plans with their applications, in which they detail their plan to help counsel and combat substance abuse/misuse in their communities.
This generally equates to ‘black-market’ sources being pushed even further underground, and is generally beneficial to the community.
But cannabis has been available, legally prescribed, in a pill form for a long time. Dronabinol.
www .medicalnewstoday.com/articles/259482.php
The effects are slower but last longer. The only problem is it does not make you high. The keyword is ‘anxiety.’ Once prescription MJ is available for anxiety the clinic becomes a government-sanctioned drug dealer. After seeing how well meth worked out you would think we would have learned our lesson.
Yes Steve, booze and cigarettes are bad. How does adding pot to the mix help? The next argument is, booze, cigarettes and pot are bad. Why is cocaine illegal?
Medical science and current research dictate that: MMJ (more specifically Cannabinoids & Terpenes) is/are medically beneficial for many ailments/conditions as relief, and even as a cure in some circumstances. Your body is naturally pre-programmed with Cannabinoid receptors, which play a huge role in your ongoing life and well-being. Like it or not, acknowledge it or not, those are the facts. Whatever personal details, ideas, or associations any person has with Cannabis is made at their own discretion, is based on their own experiences or notions, and must not be considered in any way as “reasonable or factual” argument with regards to Medicinal Cannabis.
That being said, it must be noted that there are certain population sectors that wish to abuse this program. Just as with prescription pills, alcohol, cocaine, and meth. The simple separating factors are this: Medicinal Cannabis is much more difficult to obtain legally, it is taxed at wholesale and retail levels, and no other provider of any mentioned, (as well as non-medical) substance has a 200+ pg. proposal (which cost thousands of dollars and months of time just to develop), which includes full transparency and communally beneficial planning. Their security requirements are very in-depth, and generally exceed those of any liquor store or supermarket, even some banks. Applicants like Ms. Barski & Ms. D’Amico also include community outreach plans, counseling, and community service plans with their applications, and all CT MMJ operations must maintain and exceed standards already far above those set in almost any other industry.
John, you have that a little backwards. Your body is not programmed with natural Cannabinoid receptors. The plant evolved to misuse the receptors your body has. If your hypothesis were true it would be true for all drugs. With all drugs (coffee, tobacco, poppies, coca, et al.) excluding alcohol, the active ingredient is a natural insecticide. Alcohol is not a naturally occurring substance. It has to be produces through a number of separate processes. The plant produces this substance to addict the insect and cause it to overdose. After a while, insects that feed on the plant become extinct. This eliminates predators allowing the plant to thrive. Large animals do not overdose as quickly. Our mass is large in comparison to the amount of the plant we ingest but as we build a tolerance to the drug we would have to ingest more to get the same effect. This tolerance is cause by damage to the receptors. I.E. brain damage. After the receptors become damaged it takes more of the drug to activate. This damage also interferes with the body’s natural substances ability to activating the receptor. This causes a dependence on the drug. The body’s natural system that would normally activate these receptors becomes atrophied because the drug is doing the work. This creates a landslide effect. You take a drug and your natural system shuts off and becomes weak. The drug damages the receptors. You try to quit the drug, leaving a weak system to try to manage a damaged system.
MJ, coffee and cigarettes do not represent an overdose issue. The amount of the drug you would have to ingest is just too large to be feasible but an overdose is possible. These substances are addictive.
Please refer to published medical findings relating to Cannabinoid receptors and their function, along with those relating to the very different nature of THC when compared to Caffeine or Nicotine, also with regard to cellular lipid-adherence and solubility vs. those mentioned substances as well as narcotics.
Granted, there is a lot of research yet to be done. At this point however, it is realistic to say Cannabinoids/Terpenes do in fact provide positive medical benefit in a number of circumstances.
This is a brief exerpt of one search result:
“Main article: Cannabinoid receptor type 2
CB2 receptors are mainly expressed on T cells of the immune system, on macrophages and B cells, and in hematopoietic cells. They also have a function in keratinocytes. They are also expressed on peripheral nerve terminals. These receptors play a role in antinociception, or the relief of pain. In the brain, they are mainly expressed by microglial cells, where their role remains unclear. While the most likely cellular targets and executors of the CB2 receptor-mediated effects of endocannabinoids or synthetic agonists are the immune and immune-derived cells (e.g. leukocytes, various populations of T and B lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells, mast cells, microglia in the brain, Kupffer cells in the liver, etc.), the number of other potential cellular targets is expanding, now including endothelial and smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts of various origins, cardiomyocytes, and certain neuronal elements of the peripheral or central nervous systems.”
“Cannabis preparations have been known as therapeutic agents against various diseases for millennia.[28] The psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was found to be the principal mediator of the effects of cannabis.[29] Synthetic THC is prescribed today, under the INN dronabinol or the brand name Marinol, to treat vomiting and for enhancement of appetite, mainly in AIDS patients.
Several synthetic cannabinoids have been shown to bind to the CB2 receptor with a higher affinity than to the CB1 receptor.[30] Most of these compounds exhibit only modest selectivity. One of the described compounds, a classical THC-type cannabinoid, L-759,656, in which the phenolic group is blocked as a methyl ether, has a CB1/CB2 binding ratio > 1000.[31] The pharmacology of these agonists has yet to be described.
Certain tumors, especially gliomas, express CB2 receptors. CB2 selective agonists are effective in the treatment of pain, inflammatory diseases (in animal models),[27][32] osteoporosis[27] and atherosclerosis.[33] CB1 selective antagonists have previously been used for weight reduction and smoking cessation (see Rimonabant). Activation of CB1 provides neuroprotection after brain injury.[34]”
Cocaine is an addicting and destructive drug. Cigarettes cause cancer and stink. This is medicinal marijuana to help people with disease and ailments. Any more intelligent questions, BOE SPY?
Medicinal marijuana also causes cancer and stinks. Marijuana is a destructive drug. Alcohol and cigarettes are destructive drugs. We are just adding another destructive drug to the mix.
As far as odor is concerned, please know dispensary facilities are required to account for and eliminate on-site odors with active air-scrubbing and ventilation practices, something having long been used by similar operations elsewhere.
As far as personal preferences, some may find Cannabis-related aromas extremely pleasing, not at all pleasing, or anywhere in between.
With regards to cancer: recent studies are finding no link between Cannabis use and Cancer, although obviously smoke inhalation is generally not recommended for your lungs. Other studies show with proper Cannabis use, it is non-destructive to lung tissue, and Canna-vapor contains zero or near-zero carcinogenic effects (vaporization). Thus rendering it what I would consider “non-destructive” in my opinion.
I would like to thank all posts in support of the CT Medical Marijuana Program at the Merritt Bldg. We welcome all to sit in on Jan 13th P/Z hearing in support of our compassionate clinic and sophisticated plan.
No need to wait ’til Jan 13th. Tell me why you can’t or won’t sell from your home? You can sell 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Surely you wouldn’t want your suffering patients to go without their medication. You just described your plan as “sophisticated” and the clinic as compassionate. How about having the courage to go beyond four lines on OIB.
With all due respect Joel, please read the regs and educate yourself on where MM can be sold and distributed. Your post has no relevance. Quite obviously one cannot run an MMP from a home.
Karen, I think Joel was pointing out if the dispensaries are going to be so safe, even to the point of being beneficial to the neighborhood, would you want to live near one? Would you want to have one in your house?
Have our esteemed city council members inquired as to why other towns have adopted moratoriums on these facilities? Perhaps Michelle Lyons can share her extensive research so we all have a better understanding of the issue. Elected officials in other municipalities have enough sense to avoid embracing something being hawked by a self-proclaimed “medical inventor” and her business partner espousing the benefits of “Miracle Marijuana.”
Tom, for those of us who have read medical journals over the years, the answer is just fear and ignorance. Just as many people today are embracing homeopathic remedies for their ills, the western culture does not have a monopoly on medicinal cures for any disease. I know many well-educated doctors and attorneys who go to Chinatown for special herbs. Marijuana is no harsher than alcohol and we need to stop being so primitive, ignorant and judgmental. We have bigger issues in society to deal with and this just isn’t one of them. That is my educated and well-researched take on the issue. Anyone who can find a homeopathic remedy to address their issue is ahead of the game. Since marijuana has been proven to address eye issues and cancer issues, etc., why are we spending time and wasting time reinventing the wheel? It is not like anyone is trying to legalize and distribute heroine for recreational use in the neighborhood. If you are not familiar with these studies I suggest you educate yourself because these studies are old.
Dear Tom,
I have never reported I am a self-proclaimed medical inventor, however I do hold a total of eight US and International Utility and Design patents that are medically based.
This actually does make me a medical inventor.
Knowledge is power.
Steve,
Forgive me for my hopeless ignorance. I will make a point of reading medical journals in the future.
Karen,
Inventing the Woombie has apparently afforded you a good life in Trumbull. Us low-lifes in Bridgeport are sensitive to the demise of our neighborhoods and the city of Bridgeport. Your patent background is in products such as an ‘Arms-free infant swaddling garment.’ What are your credentials that support your passion for medical marijuana? Have you published peer-reviewed academic research papers or is your blog your primary effort?
Hello Tom,
I am not trying to argue with you at all. I have been an RN in Bridgeport for more than 20 years as an outpatient Nurse Clinician, working in every nook of the city with my patients. I went to school at St. V’s and SHU. I most certainly AM a medical professional with more experience and expertise in patient care than most of the other applicants who are “businessmen” (although a CT Pharmacist will run the dispensing once approved). I do not need to publish studies to open or run a successful dispensary, only follow the CT MMP guidelines, which are quite stringent.
Through years of hard work and diligence i was able to create a wonderful business for myself and family, and I am very proud of our accomplishments. I am VERY sensitive towards Bridgeport and only want to see the city grow, beautify and prosper. Angie and I plan to donate substantially to the beautification of Bridgeport–the libraries, municipalities and to the clean up efforts of the nearby Methadone Clinic, which apparently has been overwhelmed with garbage on a weekly basis.
Look … I am quite a nice gal. Honest, hard working, ethical and trustworthy. If there is going to be a dispensary in Bridgeport, I promise you I am the kind of person you want running it. You have to just believe and trust me on that. I am not a greedy corporation, but a real person who wants to help society. Period.
If you would like to talk in person I would be more than happy to meet you for coffee to better explain the full business plan. You have my email from my website.
Best,
K
Karen,
A meeting is not necessary. I am not a regulator. I was going to suggest sharing published medical evidence supporting the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries. Before I could, you bring in ‘John Tasker’ to refute any posting that does not support your position. Who is ‘John Tasker?’ Do you expect his flooding of this blog with what he (whoever he is) says are facts to improve your chances with a zoning application?
You are to be complimented for your success as an entrepreneur. If I had a dime for every proposal from a caring suburbanite who wanted to help Bridgeport, I would have a lot of dimes. Perhaps there is a facility in Trumbull you could look into.
TOM, YOU ARE FORGIVEN.
Tom,
The first place we applied for our permit was in our home town of Trumbull on Research Dr. Unfortunately, there is a moratorium until March 1, which does not jive with DCP timing. My second home town, as I mentioned, is Bridgeport, where I have spent the last 20 years working and bettering the community in my clinical work.
John is on our team, and a brilliant man with a great amount of expertise. He was able to answer all posts with knowledge and actual experience in the field.
Thank you,
Karen
*** This is all premature pipedream thinking and once the time actually arrives for a city government decision on a good location for a medical maryjane office it should be rather easy! *** DOWNTOWN ***
*** NEXT TO A WINE/SPIRITS STORE AND NEARBY PIZZARIA! ***
This is a great documentary from Dr. Sanjay Gupta/CNN about the benefits of Medical Marijuana.
You will meet a number of patients–even Charlotte, a 5 year old using MM and learn about her seizure disorder and how MM stopped her seizures.
Knowledge is power, please watch, Mr. Gonzalez.
Dr Sanjay Gupta/CNN
www .youtube.com/watch?v=Z3IMfIQ_K6U
Karen Barski, you’re still wet behind the ears. You’re making the wrong moves. What does the Federal Law and the FDA have to say? Watch this and learn the steps. Money is always first.
www .youtube.com/watch?v=XJ7HZATMKBY
Again, this post has no relevance. A Scarface video clip? Sigh …
Really Joel? And here I thought Tony Montana was a cocaine lord. Again, another irrelevant commentary from you. Here–have a Hershey bar.
Medical Marijuana and Cancer
A great scientific video about the endocannabanoid system, and how MM regulates homeostasis in the body.
Facts about Medical Marijuana
www .youtube.com/watch?v=jvVQ-s-o0nA
Marijuana History 101, from Benjamin Franklin to today.
www .youtube.com/watch?v=oeC8y19UBt4
Thank you, Karen Barski!
Thank you for this interesting information, Ms. Barski. I wish you success in your venture.
And we all know pot is bad, Um-kay. We have all heard all the stories about how closely regulated it will be. Just like Oxycontin. No one ever gets Oxy under the table. No one can explain why Dronabinol is not good enough. It provides a measured dose of cannabis without the secondhand smoke and lung-killing cancer-causing effects of MM. Dronabinol is safe to use around children, pets and in public. I will concede Dronabinol has no effect on the psychosomatic illnesses that only respond to MM. We all know pot is easy to score already so why not legalize it? It is also easy to score a hooker. If you can’t beat it, just give up. It is the American way.
BOE SPY, I noticed you twice wrote it’s easy to score a hooker. What are you thinking of doing tonight? Fight the temptation, my friend. Lol.
1. CT MMJ will be difficult to qualify for and to obtain–with direct diversion controls, ‘seed to sale’ tracking/inventory, and guidelines are generally more in-depth than those for doctors who are prescribing Oxycontin, Vicodin, etc.
By vaporizing Cannabis (vs. burning), combustion does not occur, and smoke (1st- or 2nd-hand) is not created. Studies show that vaporizing produces little to no carcinogenic effect, rendering it safe with regard to physical technicality. In fact, certain Terpenes are noted bronchodilators, and improve lung function. (This concept obviously holds true for edible/pill/tincture use as well.)
Dronabinol is not an adequate substitute for Cannabis–as you’ve already mentioned: Non-psychosomatic relief, potential toxicity, and non-variable ratio achievement of Cannabinoids and Terpenes made available by the rich genetic foundation and endless future breeding potential of Cannabis strains.
What are the “economic effects” on City residents of such a new business assuming all requirements established by the State have been met? Any extra revenue to the City (aside from the philanthropic offers from the promoter of the Zoning issue)? How about extra expenses? Will Police activity increase for any reason? Will such a business make neighboring locations less attractive to potential tenants or owners?
I am curious why neighboring towns have placed a moratorium on such sites. They are rarely so generous as to allow a really productive activity to become located in the City first. What have been their reasons for caution?
There is some significant start-up expense to launch a dispensary I understand. Why are pharmacies with brick and mortar already in place as well as accredited staff (I assume) not falling over themselves to be first in line? Do they have experience as national providers with what has happened in other states that might prove instructive?
Why aren’t the hospitals a logical site for medical dispensing? Sick people flock there. Parking is not a problem. They treat cancers of various types certainly, and have competent and caring professionals in charge of their programs. What do they have to say about “medical marijuana?” Time will tell.
These businesses are already proven to be beneficial to the community–under proper regulatory models (like in CT) they are extremely regulated, fully transparent, and will provide much needed full-time jobs and tax revenue, along with better health and wellness options to the community.
Studies from other states show that crime statistics actually improved in areas with MMJ facilities, due to factors like in-depth requirements, verification procedures, and diversion away from black-market sources. Also noting that police costs and pressures were lowered. MMJ = lower crime rates, lower public health costs, and relieved police workload pressure and costs.
Interesting sparring on this post.
Why, may I ask, is medical marijuana viewed differently than any other prescribed medication that also holds “street value?” Is it legislative? I claim ignorance on this issue because I am, in fact, ignorant.
As a business venture, opening a MM dispensary is indeed a highly unusual choice. It does however make much more sense when a medical professional considers doing it.
As far as dispensaries go, I just don’t know Bridgeport is a wise choice. Stratford may be a wiser choice. But as a resident, I am skeptical that this type of business establishment can bring a benefit to Bridgeport that outweighs the risks. If chemo is administered at one of the hospitals, the patients can get MM there, right?
In short, what’s in it for us? We have enough problems.
What’s in it for Bridgeport is this: Tax revenue, new full-time and part-time jobs, lowered crime rates, lower public health and safety costs, improved well being for many citizens, and an extremely well operated, low-profile facility, which uses state of the art technology to compassionately help qualified patients in need.
In some states/areas, synthetic Cannabis/THC is administered to chemo and/or oncology patients on-site. These drugs are created by pharmaceutical firms in and outside of the US.
Given the fact that these synthetic versions can actually be dangerous in nature, especially if overdose occurs, it should be noted that natural Cannabis is not toxic to a point where lethal or even physically dangerous overdose is possible.
Researchers attempted to kill a K-9 by injecting it with up to 9 grams of natural Cannabis extract–(avg inhaled dosage is 25 Milligrams, a tiny fraction of 9,000 milligrams). This dosage given intravenously of almost any other drug would absolutely be fatal. (Heroin, Alcohol, Nicotine, Tylenol, Advil, Vicodin, etc.) The dog went into a brief (2-3 day) coma, but fully recovered.
Mr. Tasker: I do not dispute the effectiveness of MM as a very helpful prescription for myriad conditions and illnesses. I think it is a very intelligent choice because of the lack of side effects and the organic nature of the drug. I support it 100% for medicinal use and don’t have a problem with its use recreationally either. Let’s get that straight. Some of the best people I know use it.
My point is, rather, marijuana is illegal for open use in CT, and until that changes, bringing a dispensary to Bridgeport is risky. We have exponentially more crime here than, in say, Trumbull, and we don’t need to add any more potential risk factors.
Are the small number of jobs and the lone source of tax revenue one dispensary would bring fruitful enough to offset the risk factors? And why isn’t MM treated like any other prescription and obtainable in established pharmacies and hospitals? These are my questions.
We live here, and we are sick to death of having to watch our city go from bad to worse on a daily basis. Isn’t there anywhere else Ms. Barski and her partner can take a business like this where it would not stick out like a sore thumb and add salt to an open wound? Or are those towns and cities putting up as much or more resistance than Bridgeport?
Thank you for your concerns, it is great to see an involved community.
As far as Cannabis being legal; its status as a prescription drug is currently limited to synthetic versions, which are currently administered at some hospitals as of now. This is generally attributed to the nature of pharmaceutical and monetary development, as well as FDA relationships with these firms. Until the federal govt. reschedules Cannabis, it will be up to states and municipalities to implement regulations.
As far as risk factors, I completely understand. I can only say I personally would rather have a high-tech, high-end facility with security personnel and direct police oversight, that has employees and pays taxes, along with in-depth non-diversion measures vs. a ‘drug dealer’ standing out on the corner. I cannot attest as to the public profile of any business, but can say these facilities will be forced to operate as extremely ‘low-profile’ businesses, without the ability to advertise in most public media outlets, or operate in most public sectors.
Some towns are extremely open and receptive to this program, and some are not. It is up to us as fellow citizens to try to help communities make informed, balanced choices.
It also stands to reason if any facility proves to be a detriment to the community, it will very soon be eradicated through varied municipal or panel-based actions, as has been seen in numerous other areas in the country.
I cannot say how a facility will impact your town, I can only tell you this has positively benefited other areas, and encourage folks to research why it has done so.
Again, this is a delicate issue for all parties concerned, and it is truly appreciated people are willing to voice those concerns in order to discover a more developed picture of the issue.
Thanks again!
Thank you for the thoughtful response, Mr. Tasker.
With regards to certain comments in related articles/interviews:
AN MMJ FACILITY IS NOT A METHADONE OR ABORTION CLINIC, AND DOES NOT DRAW THE SAME CROWDS. We cannot compare ‘clinics’ as a flat-line … This follows the same notion as ‘Apples and Oranges’ … Methadone clinics are based on problematic addicts looking for a ‘fix’ in their working model, Abortion clinics have high-profiles and large-scale, personal morality driven anti-interest groups.
CT MMJ ‘clinics’ are to operate as extremely low-profile, highly secured, high-end facilities, accessible only to a narrow margin of qualifying chronic & terminal patients that are state certified, with local/state revenue being generated by each and every one of them.
Also, with regards to children’s exposure to MMJ:
Children are not ‘exposed’ to MMJ any differently than they are traditional medicine. It is ignorance or inadequate knowledge that plays a role in our perception.
Why would a child be negatively impacted by people entering or exiting a facility? If they should ask with regards to a facility, the truthful answer is this: Those people are sick (or hurt) and that’s where their medicine is kept.
Also:
MMJ CLINICS DO NOT HAVE PERSONS STANDING IN THE PARKING LOT TRYING TO BUY/STEAL DRUGS–THE CLINIC SECURITY PROTOCOL/TEAMS SIMPLY DO NOT ALLOW FOR IT.
This is a summary of MMJ-related facts, with regards to this discussion:
Medical science and current research dictate that: MMJ (more specifically Cannabinoids & Terpenes) is/are medically beneficial for many ailments/conditions as relief, and even as a cure in some circumstances. Your body is naturally pre-programmed with Cannabinoid receptors, which play a huge role in your ongoing life and well-being. Like it or not, acknowledge it or not, those are the facts. Whatever personal details, ideas, or associations any person has with Cannabis is made at their own discretion, is based on their own experiences or notions, and must not be considered in any way as “reasonable or factual” argument with regards to Medicinal Cannabis.
That being said, it must be noted that there are certain population sectors that wish to abuse this program. Just as with prescription pills, alcohol, cocaine, and meth. The simple separating factors are this: Medicinal Cannabis is much more difficult to obtain legally, it is taxed at wholesale and retail levels, and no other provider of any mentioned (as well as non-medical) substance has a 200+ pg. proposal, (which cost thousands of dollars and months of time just to develop), which includes full transparency and communally beneficial planning. Their security requirements are very in-depth, and generally exceed those of any liquor store or supermarket, even some banks. Applicants like Ms. Barski & Ms. D’Amico also include community outreach plans, counseling, and community service plans with their applications, and all CT MMJ operations must maintain and exceed standards already far above those set in almost any other industry …
Studies from other states show that crime statistics actually improved in areas with MMJ facilities, due to factors like in-depth requirements, high-end security protocol, direct police relationships, verification procedures, and diversion away from black-market sources. Also noting that police costs and pressures were lowered. MMJ = lower crime rates, lower public health costs, and relieved police workload pressure and costs.
AN MMJ FACILITY IS NOT A METHADONE OR ABORTION CLINIC, AND DOES NOT DRAW THE SAME CROWDS. We cannot compare ‘clinics’ as a flat-line … This follows the same notion as ‘Apples and Oranges’ … Methadone clinics are based on problematic addicts looking for a ‘fix’ in their working model, Abortion clinics have high-profiles and large-scale, personal morality driven anti-interest groups. CT MMJ ‘clinics’ are to operate as extremely low-profile, highly secured, high-end facilities, accessible only to a narrow margin of qualifying chronic & terminal patients who are state certified, with local/state revenue being generated by each and every one of them …
CT IS NOT CA: We cannot compare these very different programs at all. Qualifying patients/condition requirements, ongoing care physician requirements, govt. involvement, number of dispensary licenses, operations, etc. are all tightly controlled in CT, whereas in CA vastly greater numbers of people (millions more) qualify for MMJ, and there generally aren’t limits on the number of providers in any area (other than moratoriums). Also, one cannot compare a fully comprehensive 200+ pg. proposal, with one of the most detailed and scrutinized application processes of nearly any business/industry on Earth, with the ‘Wild West,’ unregulated system of CA, or with any other business–they are simply too far apart in nature.
Connecticut MMJ dispensary centers will be required to operate with stringent procedural, zoning, and operational protocol–in fact, licensed pharmacists are required as part of an MMJ business plan in CT. Many of the CT guidelines are based directly or indirectly on pharmacy regulations.
Most pharmacy chains are owned by large-scale public or private companies, generally with long-term and high-volume involvement with pharmaceutical companies. Their delicate position with regard to political, monetary, and federal regulations makes MMJ less appealing during these phases of public integration. Not to mention that their existing locations likely do not comply with CT regs, and that their layout and protocol would also need alteration.
Note however that:
1. a US-based group is currently initiating operations in Canada for a Canna-based pharmaceutical type firm,
2. the US government has awarded a medical patent to an NY pharmaceutical company based on THC, and
3. that synthetic versions of THC are already being used in hospitals, and are available in pharmacies.
The only inherent difference is that the synthetic version can be extremely physically dangerous, similar to most pharmaceuticals, whereas natural Cannabis is not.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT: these businesses are already proven to be beneficial to the community–under proper regulatory models (like in CT) they are extremely regulated, fully transparent, and will provide much needed full-time jobs and tax revenue, along with better health and wellness options to the community. Children are not exposed to MMJ any differently than they are traditional medicine. It is ignorance or inadequate knowledge that plays a role in our perception. MMJ CLINICS DO NOT HAVE PERSONS STANDING IN THE PARKING LOT TRYING TO BUY/STEAL DRUGS–THE CLINIC SECURITY PROTOCOL/TEAMS SIMPLY DO NOT ALLOW FOR IT. Why would a child be negatively impacted by people entering or exiting a facility? If they should ask with regards to a facility, the truthful answer is this: Those people are sick (or hurt) and that’s where their medicine is kept. It’s really that simple.
CT MMJ will be difficult to qualify for and to obtain–with direct diversion controls, ‘seed to sale’ tracking/inventory, and guidelines are generally more in-depth than those for doctors who are prescribing Oxycontin, Vicodin, etc.
By vaporizing Cannabis (vs. burning), combustion does not occur, and smoke (1st- or 2nd-hand) is not created. Studies show that vaporizing produces little to no carcinogenic effect, rendering it safe with regard to physical technicality. In fact, certain Terpenes are noted bronchodilators, and improve lung function. (This concept obviously holds true for edible/pill/tincture use as well.)
Dronabinol is not an adequate substitute for Cannabis–as you’ve already mentioned: Non-psychosomatic relief, potential toxicity, and non-variable ratio achievement of Cannabinoids and Terpenes made available by the rich genetic foundation and endless future breeding potential of Cannabis strains.
What’s in it for Bridgeport is this: Tax revenue, new full-time and part-time jobs, lowered crime rates, lower public health and safety costs, improved well being for many citizens, and an extremely well operated, low-profile facility, which uses state of the art technology to compassionately help qualified patients in need.
In some states/areas, synthetic Cannabis/THC is administered to chemo and/or oncology patients on-site. These drugs are created by pharmaceutical firms in and outside of the US.
Given the fact that these synthetic versions can actually be dangerous in nature, especially if overdose occurs, it should be noted that natural Cannabis is not toxic to a point where lethal or even physically dangerous overdose is possible.
Researchers attempted to kill a K-9 by injecting it with up to 9 grams of natural Cannabis extract–(avg inhaled dosage is 25 Milligrams, a tiny fraction of 9,000 milligrams). This dosage given intravenously of almost any other drug would absolutely be fatal. (Heroin, Alcohol, Nicotine, Tylenol, Advil, Vicodin, etc.) The dog went into a brief (2-3 day) coma, but fully recovered.
Let us look at what we are talking about here. CT is starting this entire, regulated system so a few terminally ill people who can make it to the clinic can get SOME relief when mainstream medication fails. In reality most of these people are going to die. Their relief will not be total and their illness will not be cured. Eventually, they will not be able to go to the clinic. Or are other people who are not that sick with illnesses that are not that tragic going to frequent this clinic? Mr. Tasker posted on how much MJ helped him. Will he be able to go to this clinic seeing as he is a medical and recreational user of MJ? The cost of regulating this system will be covered by the clinic. There will not be enough people to make the cost of the program viable. How many terminally ill people are in CT? How many of them can get to BPT (i.e., not too sick to travel and not in hospice)? Or the cost of the MM will be so high people will still use the illegal alternative. The clinic will be non-profit. Other than a receptionist, the people employed will not live in BPT (like nurse Barski. Making money in BPT but living in ??). No benefit for BPT and a large cost for CT. When it comes to spending, money is not an object for Malloy. The other thing is this will chip away at the laws protecting us from drugs. I think the object is to remove the barriers one brick at a time.
I am sure I could find DEA studies that refute any claims made in the conversation. You would then find studies that refute those studies. So I will skip all that. In my humble opinion, it is just a bad idea. I could care less about MM. Just do it somewhere else.
Hello BOE SPY,
We originally applied for our facility in Trumbull, but then realized the town’s plans for a 4-month moratorium that expires March 1. Mayor Finch declined a moratorium, which is why we moved our application to Bridgeport. The fact it is in a medical building should be sufficient. There is no better place to treat the sick than in a medical establishment. There are almost 400 patients in our county to date with prescriptions and in need of their medication. This will keep the facility quite busy, even if each patient only comes in once a month. There would be a total of 10 positions necessary to run the facility, which means 10 jobs for those in need of work. Two being a CT Licensed Pharmacist and tech. There would be numerous benefits to Bridgeport as John stated above.
Best,
Karen
OK, 400 people. Assuming all these people are well enough to make it to the clinic and they will have to come every day and this number will remain constant over time. I am guessing ‘take-home’ medication will not be allowed. These people are going to die and you will have to hope new terminally ill people take their place. You will have to support a staff of 10 with 400 patients. If the average pay is $100K/yr (doctors, nurses, pharmacists), each treatment would be $50 and you would have to see 50 people/hr. That is 5/hr/worker. Assuming the guard and the receptionist can see patients but then they would not be guarding or receiving, that would just cover your payroll. $50/person/treatment would not cover CT’s cut, rent, benefits, medication cost, profit, lights, insurance, etc. This is assuming all 400 people come every day.
That medical building’s parking lot cannot hold that many cars. Traffic in the area would be a nightmare. Especially with all the slow driving, confused, stoned people in the area. I don’t think it is going to work.
John’s benefits are not true. That medical building pays the same taxes whether the suites are rented or not. You would pay the same taxes on your house whether you live in it or not. This will only make two jobs (guard and receptionist). Nurses, pharmacists and doctors do not have a hard time finding jobs. These people would be working with or without your clinic. There is no benefit for BPT, unless laughing stock is a benefit. It is a good laugh I am sure stoned people will enjoy.
a) These metrics appear to be extremely flawed with regard to all aspects; fiscal and personnel.
It seems more likely this facility will not see all 400 patients every day, and even if so, over a 10-hour day even a meager parking lot would not be overrun at 40 cars avg. per hour, bearing in mind much lower anticipated traffic.
If: 400 people came every day, and spent $50, that would equate to $20,000 per DAY.
50 patients per HOUR @ $50 per would = $2,500 per HOUR, per 10 employees would = $250 per EMPLOYEE per HOUR given your formula.
b) ‘Take-Home’ medicine is the purpose of a ‘dispensary.’ In general. states do not allow consumption by anyone on the premises, the packages are ‘tamper-evident’ and fully sealed at the production center and/or on-site.
c) To my knowledge, the sales tax rate of (I believe) 6.35% in CT will apply to all sales/donations.
d) Chronic and Terminal patients will be allowed to have a registered ‘Caregiver’ who will be allowed to secure and transport medicine in the event they are unable to travel regularly.
e) Along with a number of in-house full- and part-time jobs (more than 2 I would certainly calculate), ancillary and supplemental businesses also benefit. A number of supply, product, and packaging accounts will be created, web designers and graphic artists will be employed, public utilities and private services alike will be acquiring new business to name a few. Granted, the extremely limited number of licenses in CT will limit this reach, but the premise still exists on a smaller scale.
f) Traffic laws and DWI enforcement will still exist. On-site consumption is strictly prohibited, and police action will be encouraged as is necessary by the proprietors of any facility, simply as a general rule to help protect their community.
You are correct. My math was done by the week. That would be $7-8/dose/day just to cover payroll. That is not unreasonable as you can buy 1 oz on the street for ~$290. That would be about the size of a parsley shaker from the grocery. There is another, more troublesome problem. They WILL have ‘take-home’ doses. Your metric covers seed to sale. Not seed to usage or re-sale. If I go to Dr. Feelgood (many of whom have been arrested in BPT) and I am my mom’s registered caregiver or I have a ‘stable’ of elderly people I care for, I could get the weed. Now, she is too sick to get her dose or I simply take her dose or she died and I neglect to mention that to you and social security, I could get her meds. Now, if I have 2-3 moms who are registered at 2-3 clinics I would have quite the little business going. Where there is a will there is a way.
Mind you, most of this is paid for by Medicare/Medicaid/Obamacare so my supply is free. The number of people who are terminally ill and still have private insurance will be minimal. It is conceivable private insurance would not cover this treatment because it is experimental. Even is the patients pay cash it would be Social Security money. It will not really be a revenue-producing thing. Just shifting tax money from person to person. I am assuming the clinic pays taxes. Most are non-profit. You really do not make a profit by charging tax on something paid for with tax money. The city could not fix their revenue problem by charging property tax on City Hall. I imagine CT will have licensing fees and all as part of their cut but that will just be collecting back SOME of the money they gave you for the treatments. Never mind policing of the drugs and clinics. We have a history of clinics being little more than drug dealers. This economic model would be like shifting your money from your left pocket to your right pocket but dropping half on the ground. You wouldn’t be richer because you have money in your right pocket. Any tax income from the clinic, ancillary businesses or employees will be a deficit to the taxpayer if the income comes from tax money. That would be a shrinking economy.
2 part-time jobs are still only one job. It is just a job without benefits. That is actually worse than one full-time job. I am going to guess your guard will be in the office, not the parking lot or around the corner. Since the actual weed leaves the property you will have no control or idea where it goes or what happens to it.
This entire thing is looking less secure than we were originally promised and now any problems are the police’s problem. I.E. BPT’s problem. Adding to an already overtaxed police force. If it were me and my kid, brother, spouse ended up with one of your pot baggies, I would sue you and get a billboard lawyer to do it. You obviously failed to secure your product.
Yes, thank you John.
The average day would consist of 10-12 appointments of approx 30 minutes each for a repeat appt. Therefore, only ONE patient car at a time will be parked and ONE patient at a time in the building being seen.
Patients can come once a month for their supply or weekly, depending on their licensed and state-approved caregiver schedule.
*** Karen, downtown Bpt would probably be a great spot for this MJ office with or without a parking lot since the appointments are few in between and only about a half hour long. Revenue no doubt the city and/or state could use during these hard economical times. First approach with info. to the neighborhood may lead to an okay from the district NRZ and representing city council members for a start! This city needs all the jobs and revenue-producing businesses it can get. If you need help in getting a meeting started myself or even JML who’s proactive in city goings-on would help set you in the right direction. *** MORE INFO NEEDED FOR THE MASSES ***