Pubdate: Mon, 03 Aug 2015
Source: Trentonian, The (NJ)
Column: Passing the Joint
Copyright: 2015 The Trentonian
Contact:  http://www.trentonian.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1006
Author: Ed Forchion, For The Trentonian njweedman.com

REEFER ROBBERIES - I SALUTE THE REAL 420 DEALERS

For the last five years Governor Christie has obstructed the real 
implementation of CUMMA (New Jersey's Compassionate Use Medical 
Marijuana Act). Now he looks like a fool on the national stage 
because of his "Politics of Pot" (which is also the name of my latest 
book featuring Governor Christie).

Marijuana is going mainstream; CNN has become the Cannabis News 
Network and Dr. Gupta is its main mouthpiece. The legalization 
movement has succeeded in advancing in 23 states, including New 
Jersey, to a medical marijuana program. But some states' have a more 
effective program than others. Embarrassingly, New Jersey's program 
is considered a joke among patients because the product is limited to 
flowers (no tinctures or edibles), there are only three dispensaries 
serving a state of 8.9 million, and participation in the program is 
extremely expensive. CUMMA simply doesn't work; sadly, it's a failure.

As more and more Americans accept this new reality of "medical 
marijuana and the mainstreaming of marijuana," our ambitious governor 
uses his presidential candidacy as a platform to double down on his 
opposition to marijuana legalization. He referred to taxes generated 
from legalized marijuana in Colorado as "blood money" and vowed to 
enforce the federal law against all uses of cannabis if elected 
president. He has also referred to cannabis users as "diseased."

The Chris Christies of the world seem like modern-day Harry 
Anslingers to the millions who disregard the prohibition and say "F 
the law, smoke it anyway." As people become more aware of the truth 
about marijuana, we're increasingly able to ignore the hysteria of 
these propagandists and laugh at their rhetoric as we win the War on 
Drugs-a war the Government will never win because "we the people" 
want what we want.

Because of Christie's "Politics of Pot," some medical marijuana 
patients in New Jersey, including myself, who've faced this broken 
program opt to continue patronizing the black market. The quality, 
quantity, and methodology of the marijuana produced by the three 
limited legal dispensaries, Alternative Treatment Centers (ATC), in 
New Jersey is a major factor in the state's program being a failure. 
Additionally, via the Internet and U.S. Mail it's easy for New 
Jerseyans to bypass the strenuous state program and link up with 
cannabis growers and vendors in other states that have a functional 
medical marijuana program and/ or thriving black markets. The key is 
finding someone trustable. FACT: The U.S. Mail is the greatest 
delivery service for this much-needed commodity.

For decades I've said, "Taxation instead of incarceration, regulation 
instead of prohibition." If marijuana's status were legal, the 
quality and regulation of it would improve. Legalization would bring 
quality and business standards-because marijuana is big business. In 
a normal legal business, if you have a complaint about quality or 
quantify you can return your product. Or if you ordered a product via 
the mail and don't receive it you have a civil remedy, such as a 
lawsuit." But in the billion-dollar marijuana industry, we can't.

For the last couple years I haven't actively engaged in the lucrative 
marijuana distribution trade, but I remained in touch with a few 
distributors/providers online and many have followed my exploits from 
afar. I've purposefully distanced myself from "providing marijuana to 
others" because I know some in law enforcement would love to catch me 
dirty. So at great monetary distress to myself I've abstained from 
hustling weed even though my public moniker is the NJWeedman; in 
reality, I've been "NJWeedlessman." I'm currently selling turkey 
burgers and smoothies at my "JOINT."

But last week someone who's been getting marijuana for a NJ cancer 
patient from an out-of-state provider asked for my help. The 
out-of-state provider couldn't provide this month, so I facilitated 
the connection to another provider. After a $3,000 transfer of funds, 
that provider simply failed to return calls. WTG-lowlife. It was a ripoff.

I was just trying to be a good 420 Samaritan- I wasn't even taxing 
anyone. I was simply making sure they could obtain medicine since 
Governor Christie and the politicians of this state have their heads 
up their own anuses. Now I owe $3,000, and I want to sue. BTW: Garden 
State patients should be allowed to grow their own!

I wish I could go to court against Ruben Carvejal of North Hollywood, 
whom I've known since 2008, who uses Chase bank account #718206738 to 
conduct weed business, and who just ripped off a NJ cancer patient. I 
thought he was a friend, and he knew it wasn't for me. Forchion vs. 
Carvejal: I don't even know if I'd have legal standing because I 
wasn't the one ripped off, but this case wouldn't happen anyway 
because marijuana is still (stupidly) illegal to sell or buy. Using a 
bank for this is a federal crime, so no civil court (state or 
federal) would accept my filing of such a suit. I know: This may be 
used against me in a federal criminal conspiracy case... Bring on the jury!

There's a movement to allow legal medical marijuana dispensaries to 
use banks. But numerous federal statutes, laws, and court cases would 
prevent me from suing Carvejal for failing to mail the medical 
marijuana to the NJ location as he was contracted to do. In a normal 
business this would be an immediate lawsuit, but in this case my 
cancer patient is just sh*t outta luck. My conscience now demands I 
make the Patient whole.

So this is the least I can do to make others aware that Carvejal is 
ripping patients off, which is wrong on several levels.

The illegality of marijuana encourages more lawlessness and robberies 
of patients. This scenario is being repeatedly played out across the 
country; though most receive their medicine, there are predators out 
there. Legalize and let the free market thrive-until then, Patients beware.

It shouldn't be so hard to buy cannabis. People who drink alcohol can 
go to the store and choose any kind of liquor they like. Alcohol is 
not just sanctioned, it's celebrated-could the pious members of the 
Temperance movement have envisioned the extent to which alcohol would 
become interwoven through the very fabric of our culture, the tone of 
our modern commercials? (Who would win in a fight, Ida B. Wise or the 
Dos Equis guy?)

Meanwhile, to buy weed you have to patronize the black market; you're 
between a rock and a hard place. The long arms of the law are waiting 
to catch you if cops catch wind of your transaction, and the dealers 
themselves can sometimes be wolves, ready to tear away your funds and 
leave you hanging *not* high and dry.

And that's only if you have a dealer. Where would you find one if you 
didn't have one? You have to know someone to get weed, and odds are 
that someone will not be an upstanding businessman with scrupulous 
practices who can be depended upon to render timely service. Will 
they pick up the phone? Will they have anything in stock? Will they 
give you the runaround for days? Or will they, perhaps, take your 
money and give you nothing but heartbreak in return, like Carvejal 
just did to this Patient? It's a horrible feeling. And what's 
worse-no pot to blunt the force of the blow. #legalizeitNJ

So I salute the real 420 dealers, those who come correct and take 
care of business. And I greatly look forward to the day when I can 
simply patronize a store like a regular member of society. Until 
then, live with hope, cope with dope-if you can get it.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom