MEDI-POT DISPENSARY COULD HELP HUNDREDS

Supervisor John Spencer is closest to accurate in what a medical
marijuana dispensary is, and after one simple logical conclusion, he
should explain it to Supervisor Nate Beason. Beason somehow makes
this illogical leap: If the county counsels people with drug abuse
problems, then we shouldn't sell any drugs in the county. Look out Rite Aid.

So, John Spencer, why don't pharmacies carry medical marijuana? To
qualify under state law, and remain immune to federal prosecution,
the dispensary must operate as a nonprofit. You won't see Rite Aid
moving to nonprofit status anytime soon.

Simply stated, a medical marijuana dispensary is a pharmacy -- one
that focuses on the filling of prescriptions for one drug. Other than
that, the same safeguards employed to secure Rite Aid and their
customers would be employed to secure the dispensary, its customers
and the community.

Specifically, a dispensary would have locks on doors, video cameras,
alarms, security guards, a separation of product from the patients,
and verification of referral legitimacy (ensuring the prescription is valid).

Pharmacies won't be filling this void anytime soon, and this a void
that is long overdue in its need to be addressed.

Moratoriums, the current rage, only continue to keep the legitimate
and responsible aspects of medical marijuana grouped with the illegal
activities that have law enforcement officers' panties all in a bind.

The separation of legitimate medical marijuana through the employment
of dispensaries will be the first step in protecting patients and the
community by making a clear distinction from underground sales. A
clear separation of "legal" and "illegal" will only make law
enforcement officers' jobs easier in assessing who the criminal is
and limit the harassment of responsible patients.

Dispensaries have been defined, given guidelines, and deemed valid by
the state, so that's not the issue. Guidelines can be added to the
definition to suit locality, and that's the point we're at. A local
dispensary supplying and supplied by local patients is needed and
will help hundreds, if not thousands, of patients in this county. (I
was at the town hall meeting Cliff Newell had to address new growing
"guidelines," and it was standing-room only. Easily a couple of
hundred people were at that event alone).

All of these patients' safety shouldn't be ignored and forced to the
black market.

Kudos to Mr. O'Dell for attending the Board of Supervisors meeting
and being the lone representative for the patient's side, but this is
not going to be enough. Medical marijuana patients need to come
together like at the town hall meeting when Cliff Newell attacked
patients' growing rights.

A simple e-mail to your supervisor or all the supervisors would give
them a better idea of the number of people who could benefit from a
dispensary. Of course, showing up at the supervisors meetings and
voicing your concerns would be the most productive, but at the very
least, send an e-mail. Each of the supervisors has an e-mail address,
just go to mynevadacounty.com and click on the "Board of Supervisors"
link and send one to your supervisor.