Medical Marijuana in Massachusetts
The Issue
- Medical Marijuana passed in Massachusetts in 2012.
- It's 2016 and there are only 7 dispensaries in the entire state.
- Local and state governments sell dispensary licenses to the highest bidder.
- The government doesn't care about registered patients and only cares about money.
Examples
Worcester
City officials required a dispensary to pay the city $450,000 over three years and then $200,000 a year after.
Springfield
City officials negotiated a deal to take 7% of a dispensaries revenue AND a $50,000 annual donation to the police department.
Salem
Medical Dispensary License sold for $82, 856.
Southborough
3% of the dispensaries annual sales (max $500,000) AND $50,000 annually to Town
Chicopee
$50,000 annually to Police Department AND the government will also take an unknown percentage of revenue.
**There are many more dispensaries going through this in other towns across the state. **
Conclusion
- Medical marijuana patients need to have access to medicine wherever they are in Massachusetts.
- These hefty costs trickle down to patients who need affordable medicine.
- There is NO reasoning to charge dispensaries this much.