Berkeley Requires Marijuana Dispensaries To Provide Free Weed For Low-Income Patients

CBS Local 5 ^ | July 2, 2014 | Ryan Takeo

[C19fan]

The city of Berkeley will require medical marijuana dispensaries to give away two percent of the amount of cannabis they sell each year free to low-income patients. The City Council voted unanimously at Tuesday’s meeting to amend the city’s medical pot rules, which would also allow for a fourth dispensary in Berkeley.

[demshateGod]

Libertarians, so called, should understand this is what will happen when pot heads are emancipated nation wide.

[usconservative]

It won’t take long before “Free” means taxpayer subsidized.

No, "free" already means taxpayer subsidized. Whether those taxpayers are the potheads who pay increased prices to make up the difference, or Berkeley finds a way to tax its residents to pay for the 2% mandate, either way -- taxpayers are already paying. (Well, assuming the potheads are taxpayers I suppose.....)

[tophat9000]

ah yes.. progressive libertarian..

We go from the government can’t interfere with you

To the government must provide it to you

be it pot ...be it gay married

[edpc]

Looks like we’re about to discover the medicinal properties of stems, seeds, and parsley.

[tophat9000]

ah yes.. progressive libertarian..

We go from the government can’t interfere with you

To the government must provide it to you

be it pot ...be it gay married

[Boogieman]

We need a new tag around here: “cantbelieveitsnotsatire”.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

The lazy Liberal dream — the government provides you with free pot and you sit around smoking it all day because the government pays for your housing and food stamps too.

[C19fan]

I think that is the fatal flaw of the libertarians. Freedom only works when there is punishment for making poor choices. That worked before 1900 but with the progressive mentality all the punishments have been taken away by the state. Also, everybody seems to think the freedom to do something now entails making someone else pay for it and the consequences.

[demshateGod]

Every druggie I know is on disability.

[posterchild]

Are there no charities to distribute people’s donated unused pot?

[Billthedrill]

Free pot for everyone, man. Oh, and while you’re at it, free Cheetos and Oreos, too. Because anything else is the Man, man, and he’s keepin’ us DOWN, man!

[ClearCase_guy]

I always say: if we got rid of all government charity -- if we accepted the fact that people who make bad choices might die in the gutter -- if we forced people to be personally responsible -- then (and only then) would I accept legalized drugs.

The Libertarians tend to want to legalize the drugs first, get everyone stoned and lazy and then -- maybe -- see about trimming down the government so that we don't spend so much on social programs.

Clearly, the order of these steps matters a great deal.

[Ghost of SVR4]

Don’t forget alcohol. I know a couple people personally who could work; if they had to; but that disability pay keeps right on that sofa convincing themselves they are the victim. I just hope they are alive when the collapse happens so I can see them squirm.

[Steven Scharf]

Even scarier are the related articles on the page

•Berkeley To Place Soda Tax Measure On November Ballot
•New Online Dating Site Caters To Marijuana Smokers
•San Jose Man Protects Cannabis Collective During City-Wide Crackdown
•20 San Jose Dispensaries Expected To Join ‘Weed For Votes’ Program

[5thGenTexan]

Berkeley To Place Soda Tax Measure On November Ballot

This is it!!! They are going to get the Coke-heads to pay for the pot-heads!

[ConservingFreedom]

Libertarians, so called, should understand this is what will happen when pot heads are emancipated nation wide.

What's libertarian about forcing businesses to give away their products?

[dennisw]

party on impoverished dudes and ladies!!!!!!!!!!

[Bon of Babble]

Anyone who knows anything about Berkeley knows it is run by communists.

The homeless are everywhere and have more “rights” than you do.

I’m glad my daughter is out of there!! I can say she got a good education there, some indoctrination, but then she has me and her dad to counter that.

[ConservingFreedom]

I always say: if we got rid of all government charity -- if we accepted the fact that people who make bad choices might die in the gutter -- if we forced people to be personally responsible -- then (and only then) would I accept legalized drugs.

And, of course, as a man of principle you place the same conditions on your acceptance of the legality of alcohol. Right?

[Bon of Babble]

My daughter, unfortunately, lived not too far from that park. I hated it with a passion, nothing but homeless hanging out there. A dear friend that lives there told me it is very dangerous.

She also lived across the street from a pot pharmacy - open 24 hours. People sat in their cars and got high or lit up right on the street. It was like a freak parade every day. There were security guards outside - there were ALL kinds of people going in there, old, young, dressed up, conservative-looking, not what you’d think the usual pot head looks like.

I’m glad my daughter got out of there, I think of Berkeley as a dangerous city in which to walk.