I find it more than a little disturbing that the cannabis industry has continued to ignore the rights of the people they are trying to market their products to.
While Wall Street is flush with new money and new ticker symbols appearing on American stock exchanges, and new states opening the doors to “legalization”, you would think that someone out there would think it might be a good idea to first make sure the customers you serve will not be subject to police abuse.
The fact that it hasn’t happened from the multinational corporations isn’t entirely surprising, however. In fact, the first big marijuana bill in the US Congress this year was not a bill to end prohibition, but to allow banks to take money from marijuana businesses.
However, in many states, even smaller “mom & pop” supported lobby organizations that have sprung up have not pushed for ending harassment, arrests and forfeitures against their potential customers.
For instance, Washington State passed the first medical cannabis legislation in 1979. Again in 1998, with adult use passing in 2012.
However, we still have no arrest and forfeiture protection for the majority of patients.
Adults are still harassed, imprisoned or getting their property seized for having more than an ounce or trying to grow their own.
Not a single bill has ever come out of the industry groups to fix this.
And that’s in a state that “legalized”.
Maybe those of you in the industry will take this more seriously now if you read it for yourself on NBC News, because you sure have been good at marginalizing, gaslighting and ridiculing your potential customers when we tell you this stuff.
Marijuana legalization must make War on Drugs’ victims whole before companies profit
For Amazon-owned Whole Foods to get the right to sell a single pot brownie, every non-violent marijuana-related conviction must be thrown out.
So yes, even Amazon’s John Mackey, CEO of Amazon subsidiary Whole Foods, sees the organic grocer pushing into cannabis.
But have they backed legislation to first end the Drug War abuse? Not to our knowledge. Considering Amazon is headquartered in our state, you’d think that might be a priority now that they have an eye on this market.
Customer satisfaction on this doesn’t end with the sale. It should begin with ending the Drug War on REAL PEOPLE FIRST.
STOP PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE!
More stories of consumers getting harassed in the news lately:
Over 60 Party Guests Zip Tied and Arrested for an Ounce of Marijuana
“Outrage After Police Search Terminally Ill Cancer Patient’s Hospital Room For Marijuana”