The related health, drug use and social stats look good where cannabis sale is regulated ie. Holland, Calif, ect.
Medically, cannabis is safer for human consumption than coffee. We're really talking about a substance that doctors will tell you is rated as a mild to moderate level drug, (cannabinoids).
So that fact should be considered, imho, when discussing dispensaries.
Certainly, the whole country would be much better off with regulated dispenaries, Puna included, imho.
A lawyer representing dispensaries in CA., says the DEA is defeated there. More new clubs are being opened everyday there than the DEA can raid.
Hawaii is a small place though and issues regarding security from the federal drug lords, I mean, government, would probably be an issue.
All that aside, it would be a blessing, for any number of reasons.
After all, the only people fighting to keep the black market in drugs in our communities are the people making money off of the black market in drugs, so we have every incentive to enact intelligent, non-criminal cannabis policies.
Roger Christie says the current City Council is very favorably disposed towards enacting more socially beneficial cannabis policy. btw.
The same California lawyer says the dispensaries make huge amounts of money, tens of millions per year for the larger ones.
This enormous wealth creation from an appropriately regulated industry really belongs on Main St., benefiting the people of Hawaii, imho.
Huge numbers of residents would be lifted out of poverty, with this high paying, labor intensive field, (production and regulated sales to adults).
The recent large scale Kaiser study shows that heavy pot smokers live 1-3 years longer than non-pot smokers, btw. This isn't about just pain relief. Not by a long shot friends.
Aloha!
Aloha,
Lee
http://members.cruzio.com/~lionel/event