Weekly Volcano Blogs: Walkie Talkie Blog

May 12, 2010 at 12:50pm

Thoughts on Tacoma pot club bust

Recommend Blog Post
Total Recommendations (0)

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO >>>

And then there were two. The News Tribune reported this morning on a bust at Club 420 - the so-called medical marijuana dispensary, ‘round the corner from Costco. Law enforcement officials allege the two men were arrested were selling marijuana for profit and selling to people who did not have required medical authorization. 

While we wait for the two men to be charged, it would be too easy to take this as evidence that medical marijuana in Washington serves something other than the desperate needs of thousands of people in pain. When I wrote about Club 420 a couple months ago, I wasn't all that interested in the people running the show. I was interested in the people they served. There are other clubs like 420 that are likely shaken by this recent bust. There are hundreds of patients likely terrified about what this means for them, their legal rights, and the promise of relief that continues to hang by a legal thread.

If these men turn out to be guilty, shame on them. There are a lot of people that are likely screwed because a few people decided to turn a legitimate movement into a cash cow. We walk a razor's edge, folks. Until it's legal, we have to play by the rules. To do otherwise puts people with real, desperate need at risk.

For all you stoners out there, this isn't your movement. Your movement is legalization. Until then, leave the clubs for the people that truly need it.

For people running clubs - every step outside the bounds of state law is a step toward a precipice. Take too many steps, and you fall. And you take a bunch of people with you - people who are suffering - over the edge.

For everyone else, don't allow yourselves the lazy mental luxury of damning people who have a legitimate need. The fact that a couple of people may have twisted the medical marijuana movement doesn't delegitimize the need that Washington voters recognized when they approved marijuana for medical use.

The need remains, and it's as real as it ever was.

Filed under: Crime, Tacoma,

Comments for "Thoughts on Tacoma pot club bust" (6)

Weekly Volcano is not responsible for the content of these reviews. Weekly Volcano reserves the right to remove reviews at their discretion.

User Photo

Razzle said on May. 12, 2010 at 2:26pm

I can guarantee that they were running an illegitimate operation unknowingly, we as cannabis users need to learn to not bend what legal leeway we have. I know it is tempting to go into a club and see if you could grab some despite not having a card, but you shouldn't. I feel like when we get a break, we push the envelop, a pot club serves to medical users, please do not ruin the system because politicians use our innocence against us a weapon. This leads to me to the point of caution, exercise a great deal of it for the purpose of continuity of our kind, not all are open minded and peaceful, so we must have our eyes open despite them being half shut, speak loudly but act with a sense of dignity. There will be a date where we get the missing link to a massive, peaceful homogeneous world, and cannabis is the link.

User Photo

juan said on May. 13, 2010 at 7:57pm

North end club 420 was a joke I have MS and went to this club only to find out that to get 3.5 grams of meds cost 50 60 or 80 dollars This place was there to make money and that is all. When I see them claim that it is for the sick I have to laugh... This movement will never get far with rip off artist like north end 420 in the mix

User Photo

kylee26 said on May. 15, 2010 at 1:13am

People please? I will tell you that I AM a very faithfull club 420 member, without those guys I would not have a safe place to obtain my meds, I have had cancer for 6 yrs now, as much as I would love to smoke cheaper alternitives"and they do have that" I don't like to smoke pesticides and inhail fertalizer, for it makes me even sicker,what they offer is something that I've never smoked in all my life, go figure its called organic fertaliizer,and pestacide free, now I'm no grower becuz I'm to sick to do so, but if given the choice that only they offer,I'm happy to donate an extra few dollers,I like to compare it to goin to the dealership and seein a volkswagon and a cadilac, u can't be mad if all u can afford is the volkswagon? Right! And as far as people getting past the front dest without an authorization?? The person must of crawled on there knees past the gistapo @ the main window! I've seen many people turned away! So to whom ever the police used to set this sting up? Wow?good job?? Now there are hundreds of us that are not able to obtain are meds! I really hope that u have proven something? To someone? To all of u @ club420"I love and pray for all of you!! Mostly to mike and guy, I pray and I know that god would never let something bad happin to people like you!

User Photo

kris said on May. 15, 2010 at 1:56am

I would also like to know any thoughts as far as patient to patient donations? Isn't this between us? And if someone"juan"is not happy with the recomended donation amount., I'm sure u had the choice of lower quality meds that don't require such time consuming dedication it takes to produce organic quality don't you, and I'm sure u had the choice also to go elcewhere didn't you? So what's the problem with the price, and will someone tell me exactly what is "street price" and what are u getting, because I like having my right to choose what I smoke,and of all the hundreds of things about club 420 I have read only a handful were negative and it was the common complaining over the price? And when the police and media speak of "profit?? I'd like to know what kind of "profit" real drug dealers like phizer make?? Uhh billions! From what I've read the only money the police seized from the olalla home was money from the 8yr old daughter out of a mickey mouse wallet that she had received for grades??? Can I throw up now?? People please??

User Photo

mike schaef said on May. 15, 2010 at 9:43am

to john....... you came and spent the day here and listened to our members. now you slam us in your paper. shame on you john. i hear everyone mention our high prices....how about our 30 dollar eighths? much better than any cali swag, pesticed sprayed poisen they sell for 50 everywhere else. or how about all the free medicine we GIVE away.no one on the west coast has anything close to the wonderful, organic medicine we have.anyways im off track here. john cant believe you slammed us before all the cards were on the table. corporate sponsers putting the pressure on you? maybe you should quit and go work for the tribune. they love printing only the leo story. you could have asked us anything.i thought you started the volcano to get away from that? john you are nothing but a phony excuse for a compassionate man. the sick people here at nec420 trusted you, i trusted you and told everyone you were for real....i guess shame on me for trusting you. karma john...karma.... mike schaef founder northendclub420

User Photo

Michael Allison said on May. 16, 2010 at 5:01pm

Crow... it's what's for dinner, eh, John?

We'll make sure you get a Texas-sized helping... I promise.

Leave A Comment

(This will not be published)

(Optional)

Respond on Your Blog

If you have an Account you can not only post comments, but you can also respond to articles in your own blog. It's just another way to make your voice heard.

About this blog

News and entertainment from Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s most awesome weekly newspapers - The Ranger, Northwest Airlifter and Weekly Volcano.

Recent Comments

Walkie Talkies said:

Thanks for posting! But I want say that Walkie Talkies are really required while organizing fun...

about COMMENT OF THE DAY: "low brow’s" identity revealed?

Humayun Kabir said:

Really nice album. I have already purchased Vedder's Album. Listening to the song of this album,...

about Eddie Vedder’s "Ukulele Songs" available today - and I don’t hold a candle to that shit

AndrewPehrson said:

Your post contains very beneficial content. Kindly keep sharing such post.

about Vote for Tacoman Larry Huffines on HGTV!

Shimul Kabir said:

Vedder's album is really nice. I have heard attentively

about Eddie Vedder’s "Ukulele Songs" available today - and I don’t hold a candle to that shit

marble exporters in India said:

amazing information for getting the new ideas thanks for sharing a post

about 5 Things To Do Today: Art Chantry, DIY home improvement, "A Shot In The Dark" ...

Archives

2024
January, February, March, April, May
2023
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2022
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2021
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2020
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2019
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2018
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2017
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2016
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2015
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2014
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2013
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2007
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2006
March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December