By Richard Owl Mirror
With the growing number
of States approving the
use of medical marijuana
in the United States, many more
patients have been given the ability
to consume marijuana for relief.
Businesses are also popping up to cater to the legal medical Marijuana industry. Even if banks and bankcard services shy away from recreational marijuana dispenaries, there are now cc solution providers that will accept and process Licensed MMJ facilities.
Equally, with this increase in legal
use has come the possibilities of
increased income for those wanting
to grow this marijuana for the
patients. Most Laws throughout
the various states refer to these
individuals as “caregivers” — yet,
compassion and care-giving is not
what a majority of these people are
seeking to provide. They are in it
for the huge profits that can be
obtained from this increase in
demand. In my home state of
Michigan, we are just embarking
upon this process and the ratio of
patients to caregivers seems to be
six to one in favor of the caregivers.
Seems that many view this
new law as an opportunity to
make five and six figure incomes as
suppliers of medical-grade marijuana.
Our State law mandates “reasonable
compensation” for the services
of a caregiver.
This was intended to include the
monthly expenses incurred in the
growing process and a reasonable
amount for the time involved in
performing this function on behalf
of the patient(s).
Unfortunately, there is a concerted
effort afoot in setting a standard
price to be paid by the patient for
their own Marijuana, beginning at
around $350 per ounce.
These pricing schemes are being set
even before any marijuana has
been grown, the results of the harvest
weighed, regardless that our
law states clearly the patient is the
sole owner of their respective
plants. I have asked many times of
these so-called caregivers: how do
you expect a patient who subsists
on a low income, derived from
Social Security, to afford these
prices? When a chronically-ill
patient, who’s income does not
exceed $1000 per month needs a
minimum of two and one-half
ounces per month, that would
mean they are expected to spend
$700-800 per month from their
$1000 check simply to acquire
their needed medical marijuana.
That doesn’t seem reasonable in
any way, shape or form to me.
I have been told by these supposed
compassionate caregivers that it
isn’t their problem if the patient
cannot afford to buy their product.
That there are plenty of other people
willing and able to pay these
high prices for their top-grade marijuana.
Then there is the other matter
whereby each patient is allowed 12
plants at any given time.
If an individual patient subscribes
to having a caregiver grow their
marijuana for them yet, is unable
to purchase more than one ounce
of this medical marijuana, what
happens to all the rest of the harvested
plants? I have been told that
they plan on diverting the excess to
supplement the caregivers’ income.
So, if a caregiver grows 12 plants
for an individual patient, sells one
ounce to the patient per month yet
harvests a minimum of 3 ounces
per plant, that would mean these
caregivers would be selling 36
ounces at $350 per ounce, using
the patients legal registration ID,
making $12,600 while the low
income patient goes without their
necessary medicine. And to top all
that, each caregiver is allowed to
provide services for up to five
patients. This means that it is possible
for a “caregiver” to make
$63,000 every 120 days.
That is $189,000 a year income for
the caregivers while the patient
struggles to house, feed, and clothe
themselves on less than $700 or less per month.
Something just isn’t right about
this arrangement.
Now, I’m fairly certain this wouldn’t
include every person willing to
become a caregiver, yet, in my dealings
with the largest medical marijuana
association here in
Michigan, it is precisely this notion
that is being promoted. Somehow,
the patient and their needs have
gotten lost in the rush for profit
and, I find this appalling and reprehensible.
This leaves low-income patients
with the only alternative, growing
their own marijuana.
The high cost of equipment, the
added expense for electricity, nutrients
and the initial cost for seeds is
equally daunting. Many patients
will need to save a few dollars here
and there, perhaps even scrimping
on their food supplies throughout
the month simply to afford this
expense in growing their own.
Personally, I received a one-time
stimulus check from the Federal
government in May, which I used
to purchase a small 400 watt light
system.
In the month of March, I went
without food for much of the
month simply to afford the $150
fee for my visit to the THC-F clinic,
so I could garner my doctor’s
recommendation letter.
I had spoke with my regular doctor
four times about using marijuana
medicinally. I explained the high
cost of going to this clinic and
asked him to please sign the needed
documents so I wouldn’t need
to spend this extra amount from
my check. At first he agreed, told
me I could pick up the documents
in a few days. When I arrived to
pick the documents up, instead I
was handed a letter written by the
doctor stating that he is not knowledgeable
enough to know who
should or should not receive this
authorization. So, I was left with
no other choice but, to do without
food for almost one month.
I don’t have any easy answers of
how to counter all these high
expenses but, I feel the medical
marijuana community should at
least be made aware of the burden
being placed upon the low-income
chronically-ill or dying patients
around the country.
One recommendation I have written
to my state government is that
the requirement of growing this
marijuana in an enclosed, locked
room should be rescinded and
patients be allowed to grow their
marijuana outdoors, under the sun
as nature intended. This one action
would greatly reduce the extra
expense of increased electrical bills.
An increase in my electric bill, even
modest, places a greater burden on
my financial resources.
A second recommendation is that
these lighting system manufacturers
could offer medical patients a
discount on the equipment with
appropriate documentation of
financial assistance.
Thirdly, I would like to request of
the many marijuana breeders in
our country to offer discounts or
gifts of high quality seeds which
many patients simply can not
afford to purchase.
I come from the era of the 1960s
where Peace, Love and
Compassion for one’s fellow
wo/man was evident. I would like
to see a return to these simple principles
of living and community
sharing. I do not want anything
for FREE, I just want a helping
hand for the most needy among us
during distressing times.
Please consider all these points
when speaking with patients
regarding their healthcare.
After all, the simple act of consuming
marijuana shouldn’t be the
overriding factor in this movement
but, the quality of life afforded to
people going through hard times.
Contains Introduction Letter, Rate Card & Insertion Order Form
That was really frustrating. The government should decrease the amount of marijuana for patients who legally need it. But yeah it comprises the possibility of increase in demand since we all know that the number of people having marijuana intakes is fast incrementing.
Medical marijuana should be grown outside for a few dollars a pound. Most is currently grown indoors, but indoor grows were designed to hide from law enforcement, not grow marijuana efficiently. It’s time we treat it like what it is, just a plant, grown by farmers, not drug dealers.