THOSE OUTRAGEOUS POT FEES

But Reconsider; There Are Opportunities Here and, at the Very Least, a Remedy.

If you're angry at big government and in favor of lower taxes and
fees, then you might not like the way Long Beach will clip the local
medical marijuana dealers. But think again.

Even a paid representative of a collective, Carl Kemp, says the fees
of $10,000 to $30,000 aren't really so bad. Of course we could argue
that fat fees will work in favor of bigger operators and squeeze out
smaller ones who feel they can't afford the fees. But in this
business, small doesn't necessarily mean unprofitable.

We should define our terms here. Technically, these businesses are
known as collectives; they can dispense marijuana with a doctor's
recommendation but not sell it, and they mustn't make a profit.

That, as everybody knows, is a farce. Anybody can get a prescription
on the slightest pretext, and operators simply pay themselves salaries
so big they leave no room for profit. There is a lot of money in this
business.

Long Beach's approach is to limit the number of collectives with
buffer zones, banning them in residential areas and restricting them
from locating within 1,000 feet of each other. This means getting rid
of many of the 85 or so existing shops that are too close to each other.

The city will deal with that issue by granting permits by lottery.
Those interested in the gamble will have to pay up front for a $14,742
permit application, and there will be no refunds for the losers. That
doesn't seem fair.

But this isn't about fairness. City Council members who voted for the
new rules offer no apology. They don't particularly want Long Beach to
be known for its marijuana joints (so to speak).

Actually, there are opportunities here. One local entrepreneur
envisions a new use for the warehouses on the Westside: Long Beach,
home of indoor-grown, high-quality weed. (One of the rules requires
that local collectives can dispense only locally grown product.) Soon
we're bound to see self-respecting service-club types applying for permits.

This whole idea gives the creeps to many, but certainly not all,
residents and police. But California voters have settled that matter
by legalizing medical marijuana, and federal authorities are pretty
much looking the other way about enforcing federal law, which is as
pointlessly rigid as ever.

Once the proliferation becomes controlled, marijuana shops shouldn't
be much of a problem. Some will become wellness centers, complete with
spas and yoga mats. None should ever be as rowdy as the average honkytonk.

Overlooked in all the fussing about rules, permit prices and the
lottery are two important facts. Marijuana has been California's
biggest cash crop for a long time, which attests to its broad
popularity, and, abuses notwithstanding, it happens to be very
effective at relieving severe pain and nausea.

Still feeling creepy? Might as well get over it. For some at least,
there's a remedy.