The Prohibition Versus Legalization Conflict Over Marijuana Continues
We are justified in comparisons with alcohol that found itself in a similar situation in the early 1900s. Prohibition only pushes the trade underground as happened with alcohol and now a century later the scenario has changed completely. Irony it is that the mighty killers of tobacco and alcohol are perfectly legal almost everywhere around the globe.
Marijuana yet struggles to be legal in spite of all the medical advantages. Some wise people are waking up to the point that all the illicit trade could be nullified partly at least through legalization and why not with the potential medical cures. Pain killer, epilepsy relief and claimed cancer cures in the offing, what more reason could be needed? Jealousy for the immense profits that wait could be one of the causes for hesitation besides the age old prejudice against the so called killer weed. Americans seem to have seen the light with more than half the 50 states opting for medical marijuana at least.
The Portland, Oregon, story
Have you heard of the Green Mile? Marijuana dispensaries are located here in Portland, about ten of them and the numbers may rise. Medical cardholders are those legal consumers of medical pot and their numbers are growing rapidly. Marijuana stores are naturally booming too in order to keep up with the demand. In Oregon State, over 75,000 medical marijuana patients exist and over 11,000 belong to Portland. The problem of over-saturation naturally arises with too many cooks aiming for the vast potential profits. With the legal recreational cannabis since October beginning, there is no looking back of course. Change is coming in 2016 with an added 25% sales tax though Oregon traditionally has no sales tax. Businesses will have a choice between medical and recreational cannabis licenses, not being allowed both.
The Colorado situation tells a different tale
As compared to the future of Oregon, medical and recreational cannabis are traded together under the same roof in Colorado. Medical licenses have fewer takers because the recreational stuff brings greater dollars. Compared to more than 850 dispensaries five years ago, Colorado nowadays has half that figure. Sales figures are fabulous indeed with August recording $59 million of recreational weed with medical pot trailing at $41 million. On which side would you like to be? The same story is likely to be played out in Oregon and Washington in favor of the recreational cannabis though we certainly do not want authentic patients to be left behind.
