Move To Legalize Marijuana In California Sparks Fears About Drop In Prices

[lofryhash]

Well first off... I dont think that you coming in here calling anyone stupid and putting people down is going to solve anything.

Second, you talked about this 10% and the growers in Humbolt being stupid for not using the plant to its potential. Well... in case you live in another country, here in the US, the growing of cannabis is illegal, unless its for medical use. And medical growers are limited to the amount of plants they can produce. I've thought about the fibers... I've though about the seeds and the oils, but where's the market for that?? Seriously. How many manufacturers do you know of who use hemp and hemp seed for what they make?? There's close to none. The ones that are around have there hemp imported. So even if a grower want to use the plant for its full potential, we wouldnt be able too because we dont have anyone that will buy it. Weed on the other hand... the stuff that gets you HIGH, is what there is a market for. Its easy to sell and there's a big market for it. Not so much on the other hand.

You being close to 60 years old, should know something like that and shouldnt be so furious over it to the point where you come in here putting people down.

As far as marijuana becoming Legal... sure... growers all over the place can form a little alliance and go in it together... but then how do you do that?? Do you split the money between 500-1000 growers?? What if one grower does way more then the other?? What do you do then??

If you set your anger aside for a second, you will see that major corporations are going to strip this from the hands of the smaller growers. Large corps will put millions into advertising and take the market by storm. Read my other post here if you care to hear things from a different perspective. Its not about prices falling... its about losing what we all love to do and weed going into the hands of the government. If weed becomes legal.... prices can drop and we'll all make up for it in quantity. So lower prices really wont make a difference. Its just when Corporate America takes it over and dominates the market, leaving us with a whole bunch of equipment that we can no longer afford to run.

Oh don't get me wrong, I am not angry, I am just thinking to myself that though it is legal for Medical use, IF another income producing use of the plant matter could be shown of beneficient use and become a product that could attract revenue for a given state, any and all states... Yes I do live in the US... with the economic climate the way it is, growers could probably get away with coming up with the by product themselves. If they were to be the initiators of a serious product or by-product that was marketable to say replace some of the plastics we use. There are constituents of Cannabis that are naturally occurring that if properly purified can produce a plastic like resin that is petroleum/water proof... and say used it to replace the little plastic bags that have been used for soooo long... it is that kind of innovation of which I speak... something that would fill a needful niche, be saleable and and replace an item that would otherwise be toxic in the chemicals it gives off. That is what I would like to see. I am a business person. I can tell you that when the times get tough you adapt a new line of product or work or you just sit down and give up and become a wage-slave. I prefer to innovate... I guess that is it in a nutshell... but I don't see even the slightest hint of them even trying to get something like that going. They, the ones complaining. And Screw the 'drop in prices' argument... sheesh! WEED IS A WEED!!! IT SHOULD BE FREE!!!!
of course that is me, I share but I do not sell.
P.S. If it is legalized nationally there won't be a need for PRICING... and hey as far as I am concerned growing for personal consumption and sharing... it would be a dream come true... FREE WEED FREE WEED! GREAT GOD O_MIGHTY!!! FREE WEED AT LAST!!!!

 

[GanjaAL2]

Sorry but free elephant weed can not be compared to the weed that is grown and provided for a donation.

There is tons of rag weed for sale and real cheap too... you can smoke that. I do not mind paying a decent price as long as it is nicely grown and very medicating.

 

[TorturedSoul]

Sorry but free elephant weed can not be compared to the weed that is grown and provided for a donation.

And that's another thing - why do they call it a donation if you can't get out the door (with the product) without paying it? That's not a donation, that's a purchase.

 

[honestone]

I agree with Tortured soul.
donation- something that is given to charity
purchase- acquire something by paying for it.
Dispensaries do not accept "donations" for marijuana. They sell it for a set price. Marijuana in exchange for a set amount of money is called a purchase. Another thing, I am not a ''patient" at a dispensary I am a customer. Calling me a patient implies that the people working at the dispensary are health care professionals. People who work at dispensaries are salesmen just like used car salesmen. Is everyone aware that dispensaries make copies of your recommendation and give it to marijuana farmers? A pharmacist does not make copies of your RX's and give them to any one.
Grow your own and have no need for dispensaries who profit from your medical condition. If you can't grow your own, delivery services sell marijuana for a lower price than dispensaries.
I am asking all dispensaries to post a copy of their tax returns so we can see that they are "non profit."

 

[michaelkaer]

I have argued for a long time now that the prices will drop like a stone for the simple reason that growers are being taught to grow every day. Marc Emery was right with his idea of overgrowing the government. More growers means a glut which also means more growers will turn their bud into edibles and extracts, which will push the prices down for those items too. Every grower up and running means a new source for clones. There are "johnny appleseed" types who go one step further by tossing seeds on all public lands. Seed prices are dropping, more compitition means lower prices. $100/oz will be common in the next few years.

 

[GanjaAL2]

Why not get some brick weed... it is 50.00 an ounce and you do not have to worry about dispensories. Or grow your own... I am sure you will find it real easy to grow your own.... not! LOL

 

[MMRC Grower]

Oh don't get me wrong, I am not angry, I am just thinking to myself that though it is legal for Medical use, IF another income producing use of the plant matter could be shown of beneficient use and become a product that could attract revenue for a given state, any and all states... Yes I do live in the US... with the economic climate the way it is, growers could probably get away with coming up with the by product themselves. If they were to be the initiators of a serious product or by-product that was marketable to say replace some of the plastics we use. There are constituents of Cannabis that are naturally occurring that if properly purified can produce a plastic like resin that is petroleum/water proof... and say used it to replace the little plastic bags that have been used for soooo long... it is that kind of innovation of which I speak... something that would fill a needful niche, be saleable and and replace an item that would otherwise be toxic in the chemicals it gives off. That is what I would like to see. I am a business person. I can tell you that when the times get tough you adapt a new line of product or work or you just sit down and give up and become a wage-slave. I prefer to innovate... I guess that is it in a nutshell... but I don't see even the slightest hint of them even trying to get something like that going. They, the ones complaining. And Screw the 'drop in prices' argument... sheesh! WEED IS A WEED!!! IT SHOULD BE FREE!!!!
of course that is me, I share but I do not sell.
P.S. If it is legalized nationally there won't be a need for PRICING... and hey as far as I am concerned growing for personal consumption and sharing... it would be a dream come true... FREE WEED FREE WEED! GREAT GOD O_MIGHTY!!! FREE WEED AT LAST!!!!

Tell me how to make that plastic... and I'll do it.

 

[MMRC Grower]

And that's another thing - why do they call it a donation if you can't get out the door (with the product) without paying it? That's not a donation, that's a purchase.

Its called a donation, because legally in California, you are not allowed to turn a profit from Marijuana sells. So they set donation prices. Actually, there not even allowed to call them prices, just donations. You donate a specific amount to the collective or dispensary for the amount of weed that you want, to help pay for the cost of providing that marijuana to you.

Its the same concept as those feed the starving in Africa commercial's you see on TV. They ask you for $25 bucks and you get a picture of a starving kid. You send $50 bucks and you get a picture of a starving kid and a letter from them. You send $75 and you get all of the above, plus a t-shirt.

So technically speaking, your not paying for the weed. Your helping the collective or dispensary to stay running by making a donation. In return for that donation and help, depending on the amount you donate, you get some weed in return.

Another thing that people dont realize, is that profit is what is left over after all bills have been paid. So if Im the person running the collective, I can set my salary at $100K per year, to compensate for my time spent working. So thats not considered profit, thats just part of the cost of running the non-profit organization.

 

[MMRC Grower]

I agree with Tortured soul.
donation- something that is given to charity
purchase- acquire something by paying for it.
Dispensaries do not accept "donations" for marijuana. They sell it for a set price. Marijuana in exchange for a set amount of money is called a purchase. Another thing, I am not a ''patient" at a dispensary I am a customer. Calling me a patient implies that the people working at the dispensary are health care professionals. People who work at dispensaries are salesmen just like used car salesmen. Is everyone aware that dispensaries make copies of your recommendation and give it to marijuana farmers? A pharmacist does not make copies of your RX's and give them to any one.
Grow your own and have no need for dispensaries who profit from your medical condition. If you can't grow your own, delivery services sell marijuana for a lower price than dispensaries.
I am asking all dispensaries to post a copy of their tax returns so we can see that they are "non profit."

Donation Vs. Price, can be argued all day long, but dispensary's set donation amounts. Some amounts are higher then the others, because of the different cost of growing that certain strain. Some strains produce less. So in the same cubic feet that you could grow 2 pounds, if you switch to a different, low yielding strain, that is better quality, then you lose out on yield. If you kept the price the same, then you would lose out on money. Different strains cost different amounts to produce. For instance, my OG Kush is a horrible yielder compared to my Pure Power. So just like with anything else, when supply is low and the demand is high, then prices are going to raise. Just like gas prices.

Back to the donation.... I just posted a comment above about this. I explained it there.

As for Dispensaries giving your recommendations to growers..... I provide for a collective and they havent given me anything like that. Im not saying that it doesnt happen, but just not in many cases. If they do give the recommendations to growers, its probably because the grower is business partners with the collective itself. If growers dont have these recommendations on hand and the police decide to swing by, then there going to jail for having too many plants.

 

[StinkFinger]

So if Im the person running the collective, I can set my salary at $100K per year, to compensate for my time spent working. So thats not considered profit, thats just part of the cost of running the non-profit organization.

Seems like a better and more true to a non-profit would be a model focused on a worker cooperative, where everyone has a say in the business and makes the same amount of money.

This would remove the "top-dog" chain of command, and represent the real "heroes" that are looking to serve the medicinal community at its truest form, without a primary motivation for profit.

Wonder how many applications you would see for locations if the profit factor were removed from the equation?

SF

 

[MMRC Grower]

Seems like a better and more true to a non-profit would be a model focused on a worker cooperative, where everyone has a say in the business and makes the same amount of money.

This would remove the "top-dog" chain of command, and represent the real "heroes" that are looking to serve the medicinal community at its truest form, without a primary motivation for profit.

Wonder how many applications you would see for locations if the profit factor were removed from the equation?

SF

I was just using that for an example, but I totally agree with you.

 

[michaelkaer]

What I would like to see is the collectives put their profits into lowering the prices(or giving away) to people on low incomes. Most disabled people are on fixed incomes like myself. If all the workers got a share of the "pie" that would be great, but there is a need for a manager or board chair (some title) so the group can be held accountable. I have run an NGO in Toronto on Bay St. I had to herd vollunteers (like herding cats!) and try and meet all deadlines. Somebody has to be paid for keeping track of the books and setting up accounts. You can not have 50 people signing for a co-op cheque! It is a nice idea, but I have not seen it work anywhere; a group run by committee usually gets bogged down.

 

[ol hippy]

Seems like everyone here agrees that weed should be cheaper but also that dispensaries should be able to make a buck too. I think that if I had a dispensary I would also want to be paid for the possible inconvenience of being arrested and have all your money and meds confiscated !! We've had a few very well run legit disp. raided and the employees and owner arrested ! They were of course released but it's not much fun being run through the system for even a couple of days !! I prefer the grow your own and share with your friends way , I guess I'm just a socialist at heart !!

 

[ol hippy]

What I would like to see is the collectives put their profits into lowering the prices(or giving away) to people on low incomes. Most disabled people are on fixed incomes like myself. If all the workers got a share of the "pie" that would be great, but there is a need for a manager or board chair (some title) so the group can be held accountable. I have run an NGO in Toronto on Bay St. I had to herd vollunteers (like herding cats!) and try and meet all deadlines. Somebody has to be paid for keeping track of the books and setting up accounts. You can not have 50 people signing for a co-op cheque! It is a nice idea, but I have not seen it work anywhere; a group run by committee usually gets bogged down.

Right you are Michael, co-ops and communes sound nice but you have to have someone in charge of all those stoned hippies !! Sort of a designated driver (think whip and chair)

 

[GanjaAL2]

Seems like a better and more true to a non-profit would be a model focused on a worker cooperative, where everyone has a say in the business and makes the same amount of money.

This would remove the "top-dog" chain of command, and represent the real "heroes" that are looking to serve the medicinal community at its truest form, without a primary motivation for profit.

Wonder how many applications you would see for locations if the profit factor were removed from the equation?

SF

Sorry but it does not work that way. As the top dog is taking all the risk. Also if it was easy everyone would do it. I have seen many socalled experts loose a whole crop to a bad clone or because someone did something wrong. There is nothing wrong with a CEO of a NON profit making a decent salary to do what he has to. Sorry but you make it sound so easy but in fact it is not.

 

[sungoddess]

I agree with Tortured soul.
donation- something that is given to charity
purchase- acquire something by paying for it.
Dispensaries do not accept "donations" for marijuana. They sell it for a set price. Marijuana in exchange for a set amount of money is called a purchase. Another thing, I am not a ''patient" at a dispensary I am a customer. Calling me a patient implies that the people working at the dispensary are health care professionals. People who work at dispensaries are salesmen just like used car salesmen. Is everyone aware that dispensaries make copies of your recommendation and give it to marijuana farmers? A pharmacist does not make copies of your RX's and give them to any one.
Grow your own and have no need for dispensaries who profit from your medical condition. If you can't grow your own, delivery services sell marijuana for a lower price than dispensaries.
I am asking all dispensaries to post a copy of their tax returns so we can see that they are "non profit."

Where did you get this information? I ask b/c this may be true for SOME places, but I am involved with a very compassionate coop & I know that it is b/c I volunteer there. I offer my time to them when I am able and the coop is supported by its members. Not all of its members are able to offer their time b/c many of them are dying, very sick, ill, wheelchair bound, etc. Almost all of the members are elderly or at the very least, over 30, 40 and on up. Most of them come in, chat & remind me of my parents & grandparents.

Never ever ever ever ever, not even once, have me or anyone else made a copy of a member's rec's and given it to anyone else. We have only kept it on file. That's it. That's all. End of story.

As for growers... We just have members that come in and donate extra meds. As long as it's not dangerous (unsafe meds, PM blah blah), etc, then they are compensated in a fair manner. Then it's given to other members for a donation. Most members do not grow themselves, so they come in and make a donation for their meds. The founders of this coop that I volunteer for don't "sell." They aren't out to make a profit. They don't even advertise. They are truly compassionate people. When people come in and think they might not be able to get their meds due to something as unfortunate as a monetary situation, the founders wouldn't let them leave empty handed. They would ensure that they had what they needed so that they could be free of pain, mental illness or whatever medical condition it is that brought them in to the coop. We've even called people that haven't come in for a long time to check and see how they were... if they are sick or haven't been able to come in, I've seen our founder pack up meds, leave, etc... It has not been unheard of for him to decide to drop of a half to someone that was ill. Just drop it off to a member. Notice you did not hear me say for a donation. For a charge. Or even for a delivery charge. Just give it to him.

I wish that I could blast the name of this place all over 420 b/c they are great and deserve some props, but I won't out of respect for the founders. They made a choice not to advertise & I respect that. I also don't want people to identify me either! lol BUT I did want to respond here & assure you that NOT ALL COOPs/DISPENSARIES are out to make a buck. There are truly some compassionate people out there. I could tell dozens of stories about great things I've seen, great people I've met & the better person that I've become, just in the time that I've volunteered there. And you know what? If you asked the founders for their tax returns, they WOULD show you. Someone straight up asked how much money that they made, and he gave out the information, publicly, in the newspaper. I'll tell ya what - it isn't what you think. And by "it isn't what you think" I mean, think lower.

 

[sungoddess]

Its called a donation, because legally in California, you are not allowed to turn a profit from Marijuana sells. So they set donation prices. Actually, there not even allowed to call them prices, just donations. You donate a specific amount to the collective or dispensary for the amount of weed that you want, to help pay for the cost of providing that marijuana to you.

Its the same concept as those feed the starving in Africa commercial's you see on TV. They ask you for $25 bucks and you get a picture of a starving kid. You send $50 bucks and you get a picture of a starving kid and a letter from them. You send $75 and you get all of the above, plus a t-shirt.

So technically speaking, your not paying for the weed. Your helping the collective or dispensary to stay running by making a donation. In return for that donation and help, depending on the amount you donate, you get some weed in return.

Another thing that people dont realize, is that profit is what is left over after all bills have been paid. So if Im the person running the collective, I can set my salary at $100K per year, to compensate for my time spent working. So thats not considered profit, thats just part of the cost of running the non-profit organization.

That's a very good explanation. No one questions places like the Red Cross, etc b/c it seems so understandable that they need a staff, etc to run the place. And, clearly, a staff should get a reasonable salary to live off of. But, for some reason, when running a dispensary, it ONLY makes sense to have one if everything is given away for free & someone pays for the rent, several lawyers that are on retainer, all of the electricity, the water bill, the maintenance, computers, office supplies, etc, etc.... (it's a long list, I promise)... But like I was saying if you don't remember before I started this list... for some reason, it ONLY makes sense, when running a dispensary, to have one if all of those things are paid for out of pocket by someone & everything is given away for free. It just makes me bang my head against the wall that people cannot see a COOP/Dispensary as any other NPO. There are plain ol regular expenses just like any other NPO. Heck, it is any other NPO!!! Just a stereotyped NPO.

Are people mad b/c they don't give out cookies and juice before ya leave? The Red Cross makes me do that after I give blood so I don't get light headed and get into a car crash. They told me it's b/c they are liable if I pass out. They have volunteers too. They also have paid workers. I'm pretty sure they have to pay their electric bills and all that... And they also get donations as well. Hmmm.... sounds fishy.

ETA: It's important to remember that there are GOOD AND BAD dispensaries out there. I think that it is human nature to more often recall, report, talk about the bad experience than the good ones though. And if you are having so many bad ones, or going to high priced places, or places that you feel are giving you more of an experience of being "sold to by a salesman" than where you feel like you are a part of something or where you want to go back to, where you are treated like you matter, etc... well, then stop going back. I started to volunteer at the place I was talking about in my PP b/c I felt so welcome there. AND I often went there just to stop in, not even b/c I NEEDED anything. Find a place like THAT, and go there. I know our regulars by name, and even a lot of times by voice on the phone. All of the people that volunteer at the coop are like that. Our members are like a big family.

 

[GanjaAL2]

Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross, was paid $468,599 in salary and benefits in fiscal 2003. (Source: BBB Wise Giving Alliance)
Brian Gallagher, President and CEO of United Way, was paid $432,709 in salary and benefits in fiscal 2003. (Source: Charity Navigator)
W. Todd Bassett, National Commander of the Salvation Army, was paid (along with his wife, who also works for the organization) $94,091 in salary and benefits in 2003 (including house and car). (Source: Fayetteville Observer)

Damn RED CROSS!!!!!!!!!! They are ripping people off and need to be shut down... they are supposed to do this for free!

***Extreme Sarcasm***

I support the growers... as I know some of them give their strapped patients and terminal patients free meds!

 

[sungoddess]

Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross, was paid $468,599 in salary and benefits in fiscal 2003. (Source: BBB Wise Giving Alliance)
Brian Gallagher, President and CEO of United Way, was paid $432,709 in salary and benefits in fiscal 2003. (Source: Charity Navigator)
W. Todd Bassett, National Commander of the Salvation Army, was paid (along with his wife, who also works for the organization) $94,091 in salary and benefits in 2003 (including house and car). (Source: Fayetteville Observer)

Damn RED CROSS!!!!!!!!!! They are ripping people off and need to be shut down... they are supposed to do this for free!

Holy. Ok, well, that's totally way more than I was expecting!

Well, the salary the NPO I volunteer for is so much less than that... I mean, so much less. It's even less than half of the last one, and significantly.

 

[GanjaAL2]

Mind you this is a 2003 report... I am sure they are making alot more now.