Patients Suffer When The Marijuana Industry Is Controlled By A Handful Of People
The marijuana industry has always been a cottage industry. That is a factor that is no doubt evolving as marijuana enters the mainstream, both medical and recreational. Corporate America wants in on the action. How do TWB readers feel about that?
I have always had mixed feelings about huge infusions of capital and resources into the marijuana industry that would come with corporations. If large companies entered into the marijuana industry, the marketing and presence that would come with it would promote marijuana reform to people that have long been against it. On the other hand, I’m not a big fan of corporate practices, and to taint the marijuana industry with more greed and corruption doesn’t sound desirable.
Earlier this week I posted an article talking about a delay in Illinois on a vote for HB 30, which would allow medical marijuana in Illinois. According to reports out of Illinois, that delay might be because of business interests. Apparently, a company called ‘Medponics’ is trying to get a monopoly on the medical marijuana production should HB 30 pass. That has at least one activists up in arms.
“I understand they’re asking for essentially a monopoly over the grow,” Loop Lawyer Eric Berlin said according to MyFoxChicago.Com. “Monopolies lead to higher prices, fewer choices and worse products.”
I don’t personally like the idea of anyone having the monopoly on medical marijuana production, no matter how stellar of a grower they are or what the circumstances are. An open, competitive market results in lower prices, more innovation, greater selection, and ultimately more safe access. There were a lot of growing pains (literally and figuratively) in every medical marijuana state as they were getting going. I know Oregon definitely did. Also, giving the monopoly on grows to one group or a handful of groups makes federal targeting so much easier, which in the end results in lost profit for the greedy profiteers, and no medicine for the people that desperately need it – a lose, lose scenario.
