anyone know why the "california model" seems to be the dominant method of dispensing?

[Purple Daddy]

In my opinion bringing the sale into the light of day will do much more for the marijuana movement than restricting it to deals between friends.
>>>>>>

As long as it's a federal crime everyone is operating in one giant grey area. It only takes one new president with an agenda to shut it all down very quickly, I'm not sure people really understand how short lived this all could be. I'm not saying it will happen but it could and there are still a lot of people who believe all that Reefer Madness crap and other stereotypes of similar folklore.

[DenverRelief]

In my opinion bringing the sale into the light of day will do much more for the marijuana movement than restricting it to deals between friends.
>>>>>>

As long as it's a federal crime everyone is operating in one giant grey area. It only takes one new president with an agenda to shut it all down very quickly, I'm not sure people really understand how short lived this all could be. I'm not saying it will happen but it could and there are still a lot of people who believe all that Reefer Madness crap and other stereotypes of similar folklore.

In Colorado we have a lot of protections.

The end of an article published in today's Denver Post:

Walsh warned that state employees who administer marijuana regulations could risk federal prosecution. The letter was similar to ones sent by federal prosecutors in other medical marijuana states, including Washington, where Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed legislation to license marijuana dispensaries after the Justice Department said it could result in a federal crackdown.
Hickenlooper said that he didn't share Gregoire's fear that regulations would bring federal drug raids.
"If the medical marijuana facility is conforming to our regulations, I would assume the federal government will not raid it," Hickenlooper said Thursday.

That is definitely more hope than prediction but only time will tell.

[Purple Daddy]

Third hearing for marijuana ordinance set - Oroville Mercury Register

[rudy2010]

Most CA dispensaries are better than going to an OTC Pharmacy for a prescription. First the pharmacy will always make you wait. Ostensibly so you will wander around the store and purchase items that you otherwise would not have had they just given you your prescription and let you go. You also have to hang with folks or numerous contagious illnesses at the pharmacy while most of the patients at the dispensaries are there for non contagious medical conditions. I would rather go to any CA dispensary for my medicine than any CA pharmacy.

Note to Denver Relief. What happens if your patient goes to Hemp Con and signs with another provider for a free 1/8 without notifying you. You can get in big trouble. You model still needs to address some flaws the same as the CA model. The local laws are doubly messed up. In San Jose they allowed just 10dispensaries for a city of approx 1 million. The dispensaries also have to grow all the weed they sell on the premises. This would take a warehouse size operation for each dispensary which would then put all the "legal" dispensaries in violation of federal law. The existing dispensaries are all technically illegal yet they are all required to pay taxes on their sales.