Marijuana Being Sold From Vending Machines!
Yes of course it’s in California. And just to push even more conservative buttons — the owner (of the vending machines and the property) is a swarthy Middle Easterner. Dear God!
Just think of the millions of rightwing hands being wrung and teeth being gnashed when this story hit the news sites. While he's at it, the owner might as well install an abortion clinic and a gay bar on the premises. With millions of wingnut voters undergoing a simultaneous seizure, and an election next November…
Vincent Mehdizadeh, inventor and owner of the machine, described his service as: “Convenient access, lower prices, safety, anonymity.”
If you have a card authorizing the use of medical marijuana (and you're registered in Mehdizadeh’s computer database), you have 24-hour access to these pot-dispensing machines. There are three of these dispensaries; two of them are on property owned by Mehdizadeh.
These dispensaries are completely unobtrusive and they're surrounded by strip malls, car dealers, furniture shops, etc. The premises are nearly empty except for a security guard, some shelves stocked with herbs and vitamins and a contraption that looks like a large refrigerator (that’s the pot machine). The device is officially known as a Prescription Vending Machine (PVM). You provide your fingerprints and your pre-paid card, and the machine dispenses a bright green envelope. Guess what's inside!
Since the War on Drugs is one of America’s top priorities (your tax dollars at work), the
A DEA spokesman said: “Somebody owns it, it's on a property and somebody fills it. Once we find out where it's at, we'll look into it…”
Well, that takes care of that urgent problem.
cross-posted at Bring It On!
Labels: Prescription Vending Machine PVM, Spanish Inquisition DEA, Vincent Mehdizadeh
posted by Tom Harper @ 2:34 PM
20 Comments:
What a pissing waste of time! Perhaps this time around we will get a prez and legislature with enough sense to legalize marijuana. For crying out loud, alcohol and tobacco are much more lethal!
Rockync: I don't think there's much hope for reducing the war on drugs. It seems too entrenched in our government. I think most people are against it, and yet it seems to be untouchable. Clinton was just as gung ho against drugs as any president, and almost every politician is scared shitless of being labeled "soft on drugs."
It doesn't make any sense, that's for sure.
Acknowledging reality has never been something they like to do in DC, so I wouldn't expect anyone to judge marijuana on its own merits anytime soon. Besides, the "war on drugs" rhetoric keeps Joe and Jane Suburbanite (whose teenagers are the principal source of cash for drug dealers) heading to the polls to vote for whatever moron promises to "crack down."
What a joke.
Jolly Roger: It's a joke all right. Millions of gullible voters are being played like a violin and they don't even know it.
Just maybe a Democrat might see this differently and call off the hounds (DEA), and let people enjoy another form of relaxation and help for tolerating different illness.
If the house and Senate are still filled with Republicans or if our next President is a Republican, forget it.
Let's Talk: I hope you're right, but I don't see much difference between the 2 parties when it comes to drugs. Clinton's drug czar was at least as bad as anyone appointed by Dumbya, if not worse. A Libertarian like Ron Paul might tone down the DEA, but he doesn't have a chance.
Oh. Your. God. Now how am I supposed to sleep knowing that some sick person can relax a bit and make the pain disappear?
Tom, you're exactly right. It IS too entrenched in both government and society. Even people that are otherwise left are against a lot of decriminalization. This country has so much growing up to do. All we are is the adolescent jerk on the world stage with mommy and daddy's credit cards in hand.
Why didn't they have those when I was smoking pot? Man, kids these days have it sooooo much better.
Part of the problem is most of us are so caught up in graver issues like economic survival that legalizing marijuana seems frivolous by comparison. Here's the rub; I work as a jailhouse nurse part time and, truth be told, if you legalized MJ you could clear at least a third of the jail. The resources and officer time that would be freed up could then be used to work on reducing gang activity and other equally dangerous stuff.
Randal: Yes, it's just wicked that sick people are alleviating their pain with an illegal plant that grows everywhere. If somebody is stricken with cancer or glaucoma or rheumatoid arthritis, then it was God's Will and He intends for that person to SUFFER for their sins :)
Anna: LOL, I was thinking of that too. I also don't smoke it any more (I know, that's what they all say) but there sure weren't any pot vending machines back in the day.
Rockync: You're absolutely right. I've read a lot of those same statistics, but you'd have the first-hand knowledge, working in a jail. It's insane to have so many people locked up for a victimless crime, while real criminals are going free because there aren't enough police officers to catch them all. Don't get me started...
I cannot rationalize why people are against legalizing drugs the same way I cannot rationalize the anti-gay marriage stance. If someone wants to enjoy a few hours of relaxation or do something detrimental to their health, then let them do it as long as they are not hurting anyone in society. The same way if a man/woman wanted to marry someone of the same sex, why can't they just marry? They are not hurting me or anyone else. They are just living the "American Dream," you know, the one in which everyone is entitled to the same rights regardless of sex, religion, and class.
(In my Obama voice) But the real issue is, who benefits from the illegalization pot? Over the counter pills are deadlier than pot. How many people have died from smoking pot and how many have died from prescription drugs? How many people are in jail for just having a "good" time/ healing their pain? That should be the issue.
Jo
Sorry my post is so long...but just to make another point, pot became illegal because a bunch of brown people(Mexicans)were showing a bunch of uptight white folks how to have recreational fun. This move is so puritanical and very American.
Jo: I also can't rationalize laws against pot or gay marriage or any other victimless crime. I think people who are that worried about somebody else's personal/private behavior should get lives instead.
There used to be rumors that drug companies (tobacco companies too) were anxious to cash in on pot when it got legalized. But now it seems like the pharmaceutical industry would be threatened by legalized pot. Either that, or pot laws are so entrenched in our government that even the clout of Big Pharm couldn't change it.
And you're right about the original reason it was made illegal. Pot was this Mexican/Puerto Rican/Black drug moving into decent white neighborhoods, and this couldn't be tolerated.
No doubt a Repug is making money off of the very thing they decry the most.
Larry: No doubt. I've heard that whenever there's a drug bust in Washington DC, the Powers That Be have to make sure that no politician's son or daughter got caught up in the sweep.
I enjoy your blog. I did a quick article on it, as well. See the video here: http://search4beauty.blogspot.com/2008/01/medical-marijuana-vending-machine.html
Erik: Thanks. And thanks for the video.
With vending machine business, you can be your own boss. It is you who will determine the vending machine business plan, and decide which vending machine to buy, among the different available vending machines like soft drink dispenser, toy dispenser, gum ball dispenser, etc.
As I said in a previous post on your blog: some people just see one side of the coin when it comes to marijuana: the bad part which is not that bad anyways compared to others. Did you know that nicotine is classified as an addictive drug? Nicotine should be illegal, but guess what: cigarette companies sell and advertise like crazy... and I didn't even mention the 300+ chemicals which are present in cigarettes. I would like to see an initiative that wants to ban cigarettes from the market for good first and then marijuana. Marijuana has no chemicals in it and is not addictive unless of course you smoke like crazy.
LOL, MJ Vending Machines ;)
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