Editorial

And so it begins

Government is never cheap

Put aside, for a moment, if you can, the problems easily foreseen with this new "medical" marijuana that the Arkansas voter approved earlier this month. Put aside, for a moment, if you can, the problems that such legislation caused in other states like Colorado, which saw a significant bump in accidental ODs and kids with dope problems after medical marijuana was approved there. Put aside, for a moment, if you can, the expected push to legalize recreational marijuana in just a few short years, after folks in this state get used to medical marijuana. The same way it happened elsewhere.

Put aside all that for now. Because now we get to watch the government put your tax dollars to work.

Two agencies have been asked to implement the ins and outs of medical marijuana, and just got $3 million in state funds to begin meeting this deadline and that regulation.

The state released $2,475,000 to the Department of Health, which must create a registry of physicians who can write prescriptions for dope. The state will have to create a registry of patients, too. (We're not kidding.) Also, the health department must establish rules on labeling. And testing. And dispensing of the marijuana.

In case you didn't know, the government has a list of 18 qualifying conditions for somebody who wants to get their weed from the pharmacy. We wonder if the government prefers its marijuana from Colombia or Jamaica, or if it leans toward more local flavor--or if there's a list of preferred growers.

The state also approved more than half a million for the Department of Finance and Administration, which must make more rules regarding dispensaries. And there's got to be a Medical Marijuana Commission under the Alcohol Beverage Control Administration, appointees all. Government workers are said to be already hard at work drafting rules and regulations for other government workers to sign off on--to keep the paperwork in order.

As for the tax revenue that dope might bring in, it's already being spent. A couple of lawmakers have decided the best thing to do with the weed money is to cut taxes. And then there are rumors of a special marijuana tax. And opponents are already opposing.

Ah, yes, the bureaucracy will get its share. It always does. What, you thought medical marijuana would have been as easy as a visit to the doctor's office?

Folks, this is most assuredly going to be a government operation.

Editorial on 11/22/2016

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