ALBUQUERQUE — In the first five minutes of talking to Willie Ford, president of R. Greenleaf Organics in Albuquerque, he makes the following distinctions: He sells medical cannabis (not marijuana), harvests from a farm (not growhouse), and provides medicine (not weed) at his clinic (not dispensary) to patients (not potheads).
That careful choice of words reflects the approach Ford takes with every facet of his nonprofit medical marijuana business. R. Greenleaf and the state’s other licensed cannabis producers operate discreetly in unassuming complexes with small display signs — or none at all — and obsessive security, where they track their legal marijuana from seed to sale.
Comments
Here we go again, with that unimpeachable - and unidentifiable - source of journalism, "industry watchers." UGH
I'd say just legalize it already. But I know people who have been brainwashed into thinking pot is dangerous aren't ready yet.
So here's a clue folks: MARIJUANA HAS NEVER KILLED ANYONE. Ever. Got it?
Now look at the death rates for alcohol, tobacco and prescription drugs (drugs alone kill over 100,000 Americans a year).
As for how to do it, I'd say look toward Colorado instead of New Mexico. Colorado's medical marijuana program was so successful that new businesses that made cannabis into products popped up. And the state made so much money they have now legalized it (via the voters).
Let's remember that making marijuana (all cannabis, actually) was NEVER about its dangers (of which there are none), but political - corporations didn't want to compete with industrial hemp.
We've wasted far too much money (billions and billions) trying to eradicate a weed. Meanwhile, it's made the drug cartels stronger and helped facilitate the proliferation of guns and gun trafficking. Legalize marijuana and the cartels lose about 75% of their profits.
Will the state (and the nation) ever come to its senses and understand you can't stop marijuana use and work to creeate legilation that will tax and regulate it instead? We could sure use the money!