Quote Originally Posted by Tritech420
Thanks COLAGAL for the FYI, I understand how many interpret the law and it is very vague. I have been on this program since it was enacted and was patient 35 in the beginning. I have grown for years and as soon as I was accepted with the registry I immediately obtained one of the top medical marijuana lawyers in the state and have worked and obtained advice from Sensible Colorado and my local NORML chapter. I agree with you on the point of the law being very unclear and inconsistent, however what I see going on is dispensaries using the plant numbers of patients to provide for other patients in the form of excess from the original six plants. I have witnessed first hand caregivers growing for 5 patients, producing 4 plus pounds every 60 days with the alloted 15 plants in flower. Approximately 1 pound goes to the original 5 patients at the rate of 2 ounces per month and at a cost of 300.00 to 500.00 per ounce, then the 3 pound balance is sold to other patients at the same cost rate. On the low end this comes out to 44,800.00 every 60 days. This is basically taking advantage of the patients. The other point I was trying to make is that again first hand I have heard and seen this: dispensaries lying to patients about the caregiver situation and basically telling them they have to assign the dispensary as their caregiver and then they make them sign a contract basically stating they may only obtain meds from them and as you said a patient may acquire meds from anywhere. Not to mention the membership fee, what is that all about? I am all for free enterprise and living in America gives us that right, but is it fair to profit from the misery of others, is it fair to charge someone who only gets a 750.00 monthly check 400.00 for an ounce of meds that helps them and keeps them from more harmful drugs? Not only is this a legal issue but a moral issue as well. Thanks Again for your input and I do agree with you on more regulation, but why do we need the government to do something we as caregivers/patients/dispensaries could handle ourselves with a little more honesty and a lot less greed.
Yes, health care is expensive, and the people operating our health care system profit from the misery (ailments) of others, and certainly some people take advantage. That is the unfortunate reality for those who have a hard time affording decent health care. It is a profit based system...for the most part.

Anyway, if, for example, the new amendment limits caregiver-ships to 5, those selling their excess to others would be in violation of the law, right? Wouldn't that expose these dispensaries to a visit from law enforcement once they got on their radar?...which shouldn't be too difficult. So these dispensaries probably see themselves as taking a big risk for others in need, which, I guess, they want to be compensated for - some more than others, and like you say, some will do so in unscrupulous ways...

Are you able to grow for yourself? I know we have spent more than $3,000 to grow medical grade product for our registered patients. We are a long ways from breaking even, but we need to eventually.