Pubdate: Thu, 19 Jun 2014
Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsreview.com/sacto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/540
Author: Ngaio Bealum

ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND RECYCLING

What to Do With All Those Doobie Tubes, Baggies and Glass Jars From 
Dispensaries

High, Ngaio. I am a regular medical-cannabis user, and I visit 
collectives all over the state. My question is this: What should I do 
with all the baggies and bottles and cannabis packaging materials I 
have accumulated over the years? They are taking up more and more 
space in my house.

- -John Q. Manybags

Good question. Lord knows I have a serious collection of bottles and 
doob tubes and little Mylar bags and whatnot all over my house. I 
usually try to regift the doob tubes and bottles. The baggies are 
something else altogether. A few years ago, the folks at OrganiCann 
in Santa Rosa introduced a compostable baggie. I think that's a great 
concept, but I don't think too many people have picked up on that 
idea. Up in South Lake Tahoe, the folks at Tahoe Wellness Cooperative 
use glass jars, and it has a program where patients get a $1 discount 
for every jar they return.

"We had to do something," said collective spokesman Cody Bass. "The 
little bags were showing up everywhere: ski lifts, you name it. So we 
got a commercial-grade dishwasher and started the program. It's going 
pretty good."

My homey Rick Pfrommer over at Riverside Wellness Collective in 
Guerneville says they looked into a glass-jar program, but the costs 
would be prohibitive. "We are such high volume, we would have to hire 
someone full time just to wash the jars. Removing the labels is the 
hardest part. We are looking at going with compostable bags. It 
should be more of a burning issue for us. It will probably take us 
six months to a year to find a suitable alternative."

For now, I have no suggestions as to what to do with your plastic 
baggies. The Mylar ones are nonrecyclable. Sigh. Readers, do you have 
any suggestions about how to repurpose those tiny baggies? I will 
publish the best ideas.

Are you aware of any worthwhile marijuana-advocacy groups in the 
Sacramento area that take volunteers? I have been trying my best to 
find a place where I could donate my time to help spread the cause. I 
want to put my newfound passion toward useful efforts, instead of 
simply sharing them on Facebook to a limited and aloof audience.

- -R. Dubs

Way to go! We need more actual "boots on the ground" activism and not 
just the "Well, I posted a petition on Facebook, so I have done my 
part" activism.

I asked Ron Mullins, Sacramento cannabis-activist extraordinaire, 
your question. He told me that SacNORML and Crusaders for Patients 
Rights are the most active right now. Heads up: The Crusaders are a 
faith-based cannabis-advocacy group 
(www.crusadersforpatientsrights.org). SacNORML meets the second 
Tuesday of every month downtown at Perko's Farm Fresh at 925 Third 
Street. So you could be an activist and have a smoke and a pancake. 
Also, Americans for Safe Access has a lobby day where you can go 
lobby your state rep for better marijuana laws. The next one is on 
August 8. Thank you for getting involved.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom