Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Current medicine still has no final agreement on the power of marijuana (Cannabis) to treat diseases. What is clear however, is that marijuana has the power to alleviate the pain and suffering of those with serious ailments. Fortunately, those who have HIV positive status, AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, hepatitis C, for example, can now obtain relief with medical marijuana legally from medical marijuana dispensaries (or MMDs).

Made possible by the approval of Proposition 215 in 1996, medical marijuana dispensaries are non-profit groups that aim to to help those who need medical marijuana by giving them easy access to supplies without fear of arrest. The brainchild of Dennis Peron (inspired by his lover John Wests using marijuana to relieve the symptoms of AIDS) marijuana dispensaries were originally envisioned not only as venues for dispensing medical marijuana products and accessories, but also as socialization centers where very ill people can get together to take their medication in a relaxing and colorful atmosphere. Current laws differ from what was envisioned by prohibiting onsite medication.

Medical marijuana dispensaries are still opposed by the federal government. Under the Bush administration, federal officials made frequent raids. By 2009, under the Obama presidency, the raids in California slowed significantly due to the re-prioritizing of resources by the Justice Department. By state law, all medical marijuana dispensaries are legal but individual cities and counties may ban them.

Even in the face of opposition, number of medical marijuana dispensaries grew to keep up with the need. Sacramento medical marijuana dispensaries for example, could now number as many as 80other areas could have more.

Medical marijuana dispensaries are also known under other namespot clubs, non-profit resource centers, compassion clubs, cooperatives, collectives or clinicstheir names call to mind their origin from the grassroots intended as centers of compassion and support.

A good medical marijuana facility should be professional and not shabby. They should also provide security precautions and provisions for patients privacy. A seedy-looking place should be avoided (there are still unlicensed dispensaries out there) to protect health and reputation.

Some Sacramento medical marijuana facilities sponsor community outreach programs that help not only patients suffering from debilitating disease but also local food farmers and volunteers. Also called compassion programs, this is in keeping with the spirit of compassion that started the initiative to legalize medical marijuana in California. As shown by recent bans, this spirit should continue as a beaconso those behind the bans may see that to forbid medical marijuana dispensaries is to leave a lot of people suffering.