In view of the fact of the birth of the Free Speech Movement half a century ago, this city has prided itself on its liberal values and policies, be they generous repayment for the needy or a look-the-other-way attitude toward marijuana use. Now, the city is bringing those policies together with a new amenity for the poor here. The marijuana will be free. Beginning next August, medical marijuana dispensaries in this city will be required to donate at least 2 percent of their cannabis to low-income residents. The City Council approved the requirement this summer, unanimously no less, with the hope of making the drug, which can sell for up to $400 an ounce at dispensaries, affordable for all residents. But the charity cannabis mandate, which city officials believe is the first such law, provoked a swift backlash from critics who mocked it as a tie-dyed fantasy in a city already well known for liberal experiments. - New US News - Berkeley, California
