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California legalized (for medicinal purposes) marijuana far earlier than Colorado and Washington. I only mention this because you stated 28 states later, but t

California legalized (for medicinal purposes) marijuana far earlier than Colorado and Washington. I only mention this because you stated 28 states later, but there isn't 28 states like Colorado / Washington. Most are more similar to California's original law.

bogomipz 10y ago
Right, absolutely. That has changed now though in California with Prop 64. The situation in California was a bit odd. In some cities like Los Angeles, "dispensaries", the name given to marijuana shops are pretty ubiquitous. Much higher than what the population of legitimate medicinal users could support. Getting a medical marijuana card was something of a running joke. It will be interesting to see if those states that now have the original California type legislation will move to full legalization for recreational or if they simply liberalize their view on what constitutes an ailment for which marijuana is prescribed - anxiety etc.
DrScump 10y ago
The "medicinal purposes" concept was always a fig leaf for de facto legalization of purchases, given that there are many specialty 420-specific "clinics" that have literally never declined a prescription request. Just look through the back half of local newspapers (e.g. Metro in the Silicon Valley area) and look for the ads with mostly green graphics featuring hot girls wearing stethoscopes.
- Fnoord 10y ago
  > given that there are many specialty 420-specific "clinics" that have literally never declined a prescription request. Surely there's an age limit? If you go to a coffeeshop in The Netherlands you need to be 18 in order to receive marihuana. If you're younger than 21 you need to show your ID, and if the clerk thinks you are younger than 18 he can ask you for ID. Of course, that can be faked. But if there's minors in your coffeeshop you got a big, big problem if the police find this out. Disclaimer: I worked in a coffeeshop in Amsterdam.

bogomipz 10y ago

Right, absolutely. That has changed now though in California with Prop 64. The situation in California was a bit odd. In some cities like Los Angeles, "dispensaries", the name given to marijuana shops are pretty ubiquitous. Much higher than what the population of legitimate medicinal users could support. Getting a medical marijuana card was something of a running joke. It will be interesting to see if those states that now have the original California type legislation will move to full legalization for recreational or if they simply liberalize their view on what constitutes an ailment for which marijuana is prescribed - anxiety etc.

DrScump 10y ago

The "medicinal purposes" concept was always a fig leaf for de facto legalization of purchases, given that there are many specialty 420-specific "clinics" that have literally never declined a prescription request. Just look through the back half of local newspapers (e.g. Metro in the Silicon Valley area) and look for the ads with mostly green graphics featuring hot girls wearing stethoscopes.

Fnoord 10y ago
> given that there are many specialty 420-specific "clinics" that have literally never declined a prescription request. Surely there's an age limit? If you go to a coffeeshop in The Netherlands you need to be 18 in order to receive marihuana. If you're younger than 21 you need to show your ID, and if the clerk thinks you are younger than 18 he can ask you for ID. Of course, that can be faked. But if there's minors in your coffeeshop you got a big, big problem if the police find this out. Disclaimer: I worked in a coffeeshop in Amsterdam.