How would I go about opening a "Co-Op"?

[smokinbomb]

i did'nt read thru every post i just wanted to drop this link off

MarijuanaBusinessNews.Com - Your Guide To Making Money in the Multi-Billion Dollar Marijuana Market

its pretty interesting check it out

-Bomb

[Nailhead]

Can I just repeat that I am a medical marijuana patient in the Inland Empire and I see absolutely nothing wrong with what Tony is proposing to do? I feel like I am the only one lol.

First off, I want to just remind people that free market is a good thing, making money is why everybody goes to work in the morning, what is wrong with doing that? Nobody is forced to buy Tony's meds, if you don't like his prices, there are plenty of other delivery services as Pharma mentioned, (and many more brick and mortar co-ops if you don't mind the drive). No matter what Tony decides to charge, he is not being "greedy" or "predatory", he is just simply opperating a business for profit, which is the only model that will work. This is why California's medical marijuana is often copied in other states laws, that "free marijuana from caregivers" bullshit I read about in other states just doesn't work and the proof should be quite obvious. Thank god I have the freedom to choose where I get my meds from and am not forced to one grower!

$75 an eighth is what I pay, and it's not even getting delivered to me, I have to drive a good distance for that. In the IE Tony's prices would not at all be unreasonable, and I should remind you that he said that was his "cap", meaning that is just highest he would go on price, If he runs a decent business I'm sure you can get cheaper meds if you are tight on cash, as do most co-ops, (although I never get the low grades hehe). Tony also did mention he is only interested in getting high quality meds, if he was really into jacking people he would buy shit weed, spray it with sugar, make up some weird name for it and label it a high grade, but as long as the quality is there, and he is upfront about his prices, he is doing nothing morally wrong.

Free market is the best way to keep quality and price at good levels with medical marijuana. More supply drives down cost, and good competition keeps pushing quality higher and higher. The motives of those that run the facilities providing the meds are irrelevant, because the patient is free to visit a different facility as they please.

People like Tony are not ruining medical marijuana for California, the DEA is, stop forgetting the real threat to California's medical marijuana system! By targeting legal co-ops, the DEA is the direct cause of why co-op prices are higher than street prices, the price has nothing to do with the people running the facility. It is simple supply and demand, the DEA is eliminating the supply which causes price to skyrocket. Come on people, I'm no business major but even I can understand this!

So again, as a medical marijuana patient in the IE I welcome Tony if he does decide to start his own co-op, although to be honest, I probably will never use his services, I'd rather drive to a co-op, even if it's a bit far, but I'm sure there are many people that are not in the physical condition to be making such trips, and would be interested in his services. Just hope you have a good attorney!

[kgb420]

seems to me, a few of you guys are missing the point. the goal here should be providing safe access to medicine to patients, not making a quick buck! i am not going to preach here, my point simply is that there are different types of coops out there. some are just there to make money, and yet others are there to provide a service to the community. and although i don't agree with the dea tactics out here, i do understand that certain people will attract that type of attention no matter what business they get into, especially anything controversial. unfortunately, the good caregivers often get caught up in the "cross-fire", or simply get treated the sam as the bad ones.

[Nailhead]

certain people will attract that type of attention no matter what business they get into

What does this mean? Why is it wrong for an individual to want to run a business for profit? When has free market ever harmed product quality and price? Free market is exactly what we need to improve the care and safe access to patients! Making money is what motivates people to open a business, everybody needs money in this world to survive, why are you condemning what everybody already does, including yourself?

One of my dreams in life is to open my own pizza restaurant. I love pizza, and I would love to make money selling it. Does wanting to make money make my business seem bad in anyway? Doesn't EVERYBODY open a business to make as much money as they can?

Now back to making pizzas, if I sell pizza that tastes like shit, I'm not going to be getting a lot of business. However, if some people visit anyway because I am located closer than the nearest Pizza Hut, am I "taking advantage" of them? If I charge $15 for a large pepperoni pizza while Pizza Hut 10 miles away charges $10 am I being "greedy"?

Nobodies argument against Tony would ever hold up if you applied it to any other business, so I don't understand how anybody can really criticize Tony for doing what any other business person would, and should, do?

Seems like people continue to assume the reason the prices are high is because of greedy businessman, which isn't true at all. Any job that includes high risk usually pays well, and why shouldn't it? Lawyers aren't exactly cheap....

[kgb420]

What does this mean? Why is it wrong for an individual to want to run a business for profit? When has free market ever harmed product quality and price? Free market is exactly what we need to improve the care and safe access to patients! Making money is what motivates people to open a business, everybody needs money in this world to survive, why are you condemning what everybody already does, including yourself?

One of my dreams in life is to open my own pizza restaurant. I love pizza, and I would love to make money selling it. Does wanting to make money make my business seem bad in anyway? Doesn't EVERYBODY open a business to make as much money as they can?

Now back to making pizzas, if I sell pizza that tastes like shit, I'm not going to be getting a lot of business. However, if some people visit anyway because I am located closer than the nearest Pizza Hut, am I "taking advantage" of them? If I charge $15 for a large pepperoni pizza while Pizza Hut 10 miles away charges $10 am I being "greedy"?

Nobodies argument against Tony would ever hold up if you applied it to any other business, so I don't understand how anybody can really criticize Tony for doing what any other business person would, and should, do?

Seems like people continue to assume the reason the prices are high is because of greedy businessman, which isn't true at all. Any job that includes high risk usually pays well, and why shouldn't it? Lawyers aren't exactly cheap....

i think you missed my point. i'm not saying there's anything wrong with a business making money. what i am saying is that RIGHT NOW the priority should be proving to the communities and their representatives that medical cannabis CAN be legalized safely. like you said, right now, this is a "high risk" business, which is where our focus shoud be. of course, eventually hemp will become as big and as accepted as any other big industry, but first we have to make sure we don't fuck it up crawl before we walk type of thing..

[Nailhead]

I understand what you are saying, but at the same time I disagree because too many good people have been harassed or put away that were playing by the rules and not looking to make a profit. So I say go ahead and make a profit to pay for your future legal fees.

As long as the co-op is respecting local city law enforcement and nearby businesses by keeping their customers from hanging around outside, I don't see what people could complain about. Most I've been to are very discrete and you would never know it was a co-op unless you walked inside, but if you asked people and told them what they did many might still complain just because they have a personal bias against the thought of somebody selling marijuana, even if its for medical reasons.

Many people also assume medical marijuana is for near death people, so when they see someone like me that on the outside looks like a typical 28 year old walking in, they might assume I don't really need it and then have an issue with that co-op. It all comes down to people's bias against marijuana, some people just need to lighten up because I think the majority of co-ops are run very professionally and do a good job at not causing problems for their surroundings.

[luvfriday]

"Illegitimi non carborundum"

I love that

[Opie Yutts]

Also, lets say I get a year or two out of it, SCREW IT! It'll be worth it and it'll be fun!

Holy fucking crap. I've never heard anything more ridiculous in my life. I recommend starting butthole-stretching exercises right away.

[MVP]

Holy fucking crap. I've never heard anything more ridiculous in my life. I recommend starting butthole-stretching exercises right away.

Holy Fucking Crap, that is funny!!! :S2: Won't fucking let me rep ya for that one, but I would if I could.....

[veggii]

I think the place to start would be just like any other business
you should obtian a california sellers permit
keep records of your sales (donotions)lol
and pay your taxes!!!!