A few weeks ago we could know by High Times , the prestigious international magazine on cannabis, cannabis dispensaries were again victims of the use of laws moralistic orientation. The proposal, Bill SB 5264 , unites two concepts: substance regulated by federal laws and the crypto money, which includes a definition in the amendment itself.
Marijuana, which it is now legalized in 23 states of USA (good for recreational use, medical use or both), which is based on state legislation, hard and lower than federal laws that are promoted by the government ladder the nation. That kind of legislative schizophrenia was what we had to do was raids on dispensaries (for those who do not know them, are similar to a herbalist) with own show large anti-drug operations of the federal government -by in different states that had gone hand opening ways for rational access to the plant by its citizens. I take this opportunity to note that all these states made the decision to overturn the ban, which is estatal- through public voting, which the legitimacy of these measures is inherent in the ability of a people to govern themselves; It does not seem questionable, or on behalf of a war or any moralist and unscientific policy.
The part of the amendment is to incorporate the law is this: "A marijuana producer, processor product or retailer can not pay or accept as payment any virtual currency (sic) for the purchase of marijuana or a derived product " .
And why not? For in the amendment he does not say, but people CoinDesk could reach who proposed and ask some explanation. Your answer can not be more insane:
"One of the goals of my 'Patient Protection Act cannabis user' that was established as law in 2015, it was to eliminate the black and gray markets of cannabis in our state. This amendment simply faces another party the regulatory challenge. After all the work we have done to take charge of the cannabis industry and help you move in the legal field, allow the use of coins unregulated for the acquisition of cannabis does not allow the level of transparency that we pledged to develop. "
[Author 's note: it is in these moments when I wish I could scream ... English for BULLSHIT !! ]
What hurt was as chronically ill pain and cannabis user (if you live in USA, the law of "patient protection" would affect me full) it is that all this is done through a law that supposedly aims to further protect me .
Well, that's how laws protect the user of cannabis, step by step in a simple example:
1 - Martha is a lady of 56 years with bone and muscle problem that causes pain, and between therapeutic options that your doctor gives you are opiates and cannabis.
2 - How Martha heard (and lived in their community) problems arising from "massive" use of opiates / opioids and know its effects, decides to try cannabis before starting compounds such as morphine.
3 - Luckily, Martha lives in Colorado and in that state there is a good regulatory system that allows you to access cannabis without having to go at any time for any black or gray market of any kind.
4 - Martha will buy and be counseled on the use of cannabis should hand of a professional at a pharmacy or a clinic that sells the plant already prepared for consumption.
5 - When Martha will pay, take your VISA card to pay for the purchase, but the clerk will refuse payment with the card and points to a sign indicating that they can only collect cash, based on a law made to protect the patient cannabis user.
6 - Martha can not believe what you hear, because in USA the use of cash or "cash" is very rare as most pay by card or with some kind of application on the mobile. Martha while not wearing any cash over, although it has several cards and digital payment systems at your fingertips from your mobile phone, including Bitcoin.
7 - Martha offered to pay with Bitcoin, and the clerk says he is banned also in this case to protect the black and gray market. Martha does not understand a shit at this point.
8 - Martha surrenders and asks where there is an ATM to withdraw some of the colored paper called cash and pay for your purchase with it. The clerk tells you where the closest. Martha leaves the buying and goes to look metallic.
9 - When it reaches the cashier, Martha detects the presence of some people who do not give confidence (seem to be waiting for some victim to assault), and not exposing themselves to danger therein, decides to go to a more crowded.
10 - After driving 16 km to a large commercial area, Martha returns to the clinic with cash to pick up your purchase, and go home to rest fuck up because he's back like shit and want to relax eliminating your pain.
11 - When Martha opened the door of the clinic, with his briefcase in hand, sees that there are 3 armed men inside (one with a pistol and the other with knives) raiding the dispensary looking for money, while the clerk a he had attended an hour before he is on the floor, unconscious in a pool of blood ...
That's what they get these laws to protect patients. The fact handled only cash, USA, is exceptional and an obvious risk. Since cannabis dispensaries are forced to work only with metal, they are converted into a clear attraction for thieves and robbers , as they are forced to collect and transport large amounts of money - not necessarily profits - that cannabis whose price moves in USA is outrageously high.
That has made data-specifically dispensaries were Colorado- were assaulted by up to 200 times, and they need to have protections equivalent to those of jewelry or money exchange houses, for what is essentially selling a dried herb sachets plastic after weighing on a scale; I complete nonsense caused by legislators away from work for the common good, let alone to protect any patient, put them in danger.
Martha's story, in this case, is fiction. It is in so far as it is a character invented to put a face to some of those 200 cases that has led to a situation of violence in search of cash. In response to this situation, the community-at cannabis is generally quite "tech-friendly" adopted in some places Bitcoin payment, to avoid precisely that patients (or simple recreational users) who come near to buy cannabis they were a bait thrown into a pool shark looking for something to eat, and to avoid having to convert dispensaries in "security offices" to destroy the customer contact (essential at this time of re-legalization, for its educational contribution on the product and the plant).
This intelligent and technologically strong response is to use Bitcoin to not put yourself in danger when you approach for your medicine to a dispensary reaction to a stupid law that lets businesses cannabis outside the traditional banking system , is what this amendment intended to block . And remember the joke: it does to prevent black and gray markets, in the words of its author, as well as to protect the patient using cannabis.
'Intensify AND SPLASH for the legislator !!
Asked Rob Fess, director of marketing platform wholesale marijuana TRADIV , his opinion was that "exclude an industry in particular a specific means of payment, it seems too unclear and crude, so I imagine that lawyers have no problem with shooting down this amendment. "
Satoshi hear you, Rob, because once again comes to the rescue Bitcoin and once again will try to make a legal suit -camisa force-whose seams are already broken before you start.