Summary of the THC Expo

I made it back from what was a sensational weekend at the THC Expo. Ajnag had a stellar showing and I can't wait until 2010. 

For those of you who are new to the cannabis and medical cannabis communities/industries, or maybe some of you want to get involved in this new industry and are unfamilar as to where or what to expect. This next section is for you.

For the MMJ Industry Noob

The MMJ industry in California has traditionally been scrattered and disorganized, but for good reason. Obviously, the bush administration didn't favor our kind and forced everyone underground which made communication, networking, and infrastructure development difficult and potentially fatal.

With recent changes in federal policy, incompotent fiscal oversight and rising costs of health care hundreds of thousands of Californian's are plastering news and media online blogs, forums, social media sites as well as utilizing social networking resources in aims of rallying support and growth of the industry and overall betterment the California Citizen via taxation and regulation of  medical cannabis on a local level.

As a result we are seeing amazing turnouts at ASA Chapter Meetings and other local and regional organizations. Many of these organizations are commenting on how encouraging it is and envigorating it is to see an increase in their resources, due primarily to the increases local and regional involvement.

Industry Uncertainty

However, all of this agitation and kinetic energy worries some on both sides of the line. Many opposed to the rights of patients to have safe and convenient access to medical cannabis find this threatening and unsuitable as they perceive it unsavory and unsafe for their community and locality. This is a concern that is addressed by statistics taken from up and down the state objectively disputing this claim. 

For some of the older and more institutional medical cannabis facilities I believe that they find the proliferation of local rather than regional medical cannabis facilities where it takes patients up to an two hours or more to get their medicine. With such few collectives, county and city bans, and increasing patient numbers it is problematic. But I am hearing some say that the older veteran icons in the industry are trying to box out the competition. It is absurd to think that they facilities will ever truly be threatened. Some say they are greedy, other say they are too prideful; yet, one would hope there to be a sense of unity. 

One Operator's Response

One argument that some of these more established locations might bring forward is for "The Greater Good! the greater good..." in that the quality and safety of the medicine will be sacrificed due to lack of regulation and oversight.

What do you think Ajnag community members?  

Is that really a sound argument? This operator's perspective is absolutely contrary.

I am opening a boutique collective in Walnut Creek in Contra Costa County, our doors will be open in the next 10 weeks if not sooner, and one way that I am going to ensure the medicine that comes in is clean and safe is to do in-house screening and testing for contaminants as well as intake forms and records.

In addition I plan to create a market demand for clean and certified meds. It would be better if these older institutions created a market demand for clean and certified meds rather than blocking out new collectives from opening. Those older institutions have enough money establish their own or underwrite a testing facility/company.

This operator thinks that if the patient was placed first then older institutions would promote the opening of new collectives and not utilize their financial agility to influence local government to box out new store-front initiatives. It would be more reasonable to lobby for legislation that would allow a greater number of use permits to be issued in surrounding cities/counties. In addition, it would also be nice to see more transparency with those older collective's involvement with local government, events and dealings at governmental council meetings. 

I Feel the Heat.

All of that said, the medical cannabis industry is on fire with what has been significant increases in media attention and gerater movement and organization amongst activists, supporters, patients, business people, and goverment officials. Get involved all of you entreaprenuers who want to bring legitamate business to this industry. I am constantly getting phone calls, text messages, emails, private messages about some new effort or initiative.

It is encouraging but also a bit unerving as industry cliques and alliances are now being formed. Where do you stand and who do stand next to? Do your interests alliance with their motivation? Who is this "supposed sleeping giant Medical Marijuana Inc., (MJNA)"? Comments to look forward to...  

Stay safe out there kids and don't get lost in the vapor haze, smoke screens, and mirrors. 

Introduction

Hello to all of those who are taking the time out to read this blog. I am sure as time goes by there will more opportunities to discuss and rant about the emerging medical cannabis industry. 

My name is Jub Jub. I have worked with Ajnag.com for sometime now. As of last night, Jub Jub Media's Cannabis Industry TV programming has been completed.

Since being rejected from graduate school third week in March, I have since decided to make my visions a reality--a Wellness Collective that offers fitness (Pilates and Yoga) daily as well as weekly wellness (acupuncture and massage) appointments with contracted wellness practictioners. 

Green Dots Wellness Collective:

how long can we hold our breath?

The past week has been quite nerve racking. I am waiting to give the green light so we can begin our onsite tenant improvement evaluations, however, things seem to be stalled.

As many of you may know from visiting your local or regional medical cannabis collectives that parking is becoming a growing concern. With the increase in qualified prop 215 patients, collectives are seeing an increase in traffic which is problematic in more ways than one. Currently, we are suffering from a parking dilema as there are not enough spaces for our use. We want to be proactive and have this all wrapped up before we open, so as to better position ourselves if and when the city of Walnut Creek invokes a dispute.

How long can we hold our breath? Qualified patients in Contra Costa County are in need of medicine and wellness services, and currently with only one collective in the county it makes things very difficult.

If you are reading this and are in the East Bay, Contra Costa County, or the city of Walnut Creek and would like to learn more about Green Dots Wellness Collective, apply for a job (Reception, Dispensing Technician, Security), or inquire about becoming our wellness practitioner let me know. 

Time to Snub It Out

Thanks again for reading. Come back to learn more of my experiences in the Medical Cannabis Industry. 

If you have any direct questions, topics, or comments that you would like me to address please by all means get involved and contact me, reply to this blog, or post on my Wall. 

Cheers, Jub Jub