The Ruckus Rant: Medical Patients Matter

As the weather starts to cool down, I stay hot! A few things that have been sticking in my craw lately? Now that we have recreational use and everyone over 21 can buy and consume, can we get rid of the ridiculous conceal carry provisions in the medical marijuana program? Anyone can go buy all the booze they want and be hopped up on all kinds of prescription medications and still have a concealed carry permit but medical marijuana cardholders who are going about everything above the letter of the law and could probably use the protection more than anyone, can’t!
How about the whole not being allowed to ride amusement park rides? Remember that? Yeah, still on the books. Medical marijuana patients are still treated like some kinda monkey that has to dance for their treats. Only, our “treats” are our medicine that we use to get through the day.

Yes, medical patients get to pay less in taxes, but in the end, we are treated the same as recreational users. We still have to deal with the shortages, cultivators pulling the supply and demand pricing, the lines and wait times, not being allowed to use anywhere but in our own homes. Why should we have to have have to deal with any of this after the money we give the state? I’ve paid quite a bit of money, for many years now to have the “right” to be a patient. I’m seeing people who have been in the medical program longer than me drop out because it’s just easier to buy it recreationally and that’s a damn shame.

The medical program is what got us to recreational use. Don’t let it slip away. I personally wish more people who use cannabis on a regular basis would get their cards. The, maybe we can be taken as serious as a lot of the problems people are finding relief from. Recreational use is great, but we really need to do something about the rules that apply to the medical program. I know I’ve said this before but, we need to get rid of the stigma and judgement of cannabis. We need everyone to realize just how much this plant is changing lives FOR THE BETTER! With the amount of money the state is getting from us through taxes and charges for cards you’d think they would take us a little more serious.

And, while I have the space and means, let me remind anyone that is trying to get into this business what I’ve said before, educate yourself. It’s amazing to me the amount of people with little to no knowledge of concentrates, strains, terpenes, and diseases that would even apply for these jobs. You wouldn’t apply to be a bartender without knowing how to make drinks, you wouldn’t apply to be a welder without knowing how to weld. Why would you apply to do this without a basic knowledge of cannabis? The information is out there. Just take the time and learn it. Again, giving people the wrong medicine is dangerous. This is NOT just selling pot like the old days. This goes for the owners and managers of dispensaries too. Quit hiring people that don’t know what they are doing. You are only hurting your customers. These people come to us a lot of times because they are in pain or worse. We have a very real responsibility to help them. Having people in place that give misinformation only harms the fact that we CAN ease people’s suffering and make their lives better through cannabis use. Please, I’m begging you, take hiring and customer interaction more seriously and you’ll see the difference as the customers spread the word on their own. If something works to ease my pain and make my day better, I want EVERYONE to know. Making sure people get what they need through informed decisions from a knowledgeable bis the best way of letting the world know what we can do.

And again, to paraphrase Jack Herer, “I don’t know if cannabis will save the world, but it’s the only thing that can!”