Law Requires Dispensaries To Provide Free Pot to Low Income Patients

[libertyjam]

From the YJCMTSU dept.

a new perk for being poor, at least in Berkeley, really I guess it is the only humane thing to do.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/07/02/berkeley-plans-to-provide-free-weed-for-low-income-patients-marijuana-pot-collectives-dispensaries/

BERKELEY (CBS SF) —
The city of Berkeley will require medical marijuana dispensaries to give away two percent of the amount of cannabis they sell each year free to low-income patients.

Under the proposal, at least two percent of all medical weed dispensed at a club would have to be provided at no cost to very low-income members — and it must be the same quality that’s dispensed to regular paying customers.

One Berkeley marijuana dispensary, the Berkeley Patients Group, already gives out free cannabis to the poor, and has for 15 years.

“We’ve found out over the years that one of the cruel realities is that when you do get sick and you have a serious illness is that it’s often hard to keep a job, can be hard to keep your income up, so those people really need the help the most,” said Sean Luse of Berkeley Patients Group.

The measure is set for final approval next week

[tod evans]

Good on the dude who helps out the poor on his own!

Fie on government and their mandates!

[dannno]

Poor people would have no trouble purchasing their medicine if it were legal..

That's really cool that some dispensarie(s) did this on their own.

[Zippyjuan]

Headline is perhaps pre-mature. "Law Requires" should be "Law Could Require".


The measure is set for final approval next week

[libertyjam]

Ah Jeeze, can't get any journalistic license around here!

[devil21]

Voluntary is a good thing but a law sucks.

Are there laws that require grocery stores to give away their produce? How about home improvement stores giving away free stuff by law? Does big pharma have to give away free meds? I hope this law gets shot down.

[Zippyjuan]

Grocery stores do get tax credit for "donating" to charities and food banks damaged but salable goods and drug companies do offer free (or low cost) medications (not sure about the law on that- if they are required to or like the grocers receive tax breaks if they do). http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2009-07-23/why-can-some-patients-get-free-drugs-while-others-cant-businessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice

[devil21]

We both know neither is required by law to give away 2% of their products (and if there was, they would build that into their prices). There may be incentives to do so but it's not mandatory.