The Debate On California's Pot Shops

Morley Safer Reports On Proposition 215

(CBS)  This segment was originally broadcast on Sept. 23, 2007. It was updated on Dec. 30, 2007.

Eleven years ago, California became the first of a dozen states in the nation to legalize medical marijuana. True believers, including many doctors, say pot works to ease pain or counter the side effects of chemotherapy. And the National Academy of Sciences agrees, if the drug is carefully used. Critics see medical use as the gateway to legalizing all marijuana.

Well, how is the California state law working? As correspondent Morley Safer reports, the answer involves another statute: the law of unintended consequences.

For one thing, the federal government still views marijuana, medical or otherwise, as illegal and has been cracking down on dispensaries that sell it. For another, it's clear there are legions of people buying medical marijuana for the sole purpose of getting high. For both them and the truly ill in California, it's become an easy matter: just drop by your little pot shop around the corner.

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It's just another day at a dispensary, as they call them, in San Francisco. There, with a note from a doctor, you can buy marijuana for anything you claim ails you, in just about any form, including cookies, pies and chocolate milk.

In many dispensaries up and down the state, there's a tasting corner, where you can sample the wares, and where you'll find any number of satisfied customers.

"I use medical marijuana for anxiety, neck pain and back pain. It seems to be the only thing that works that's not an opiate derivative," one man tells Safer.

Another man says he smokes marijuana because he has a torn ligament in his knee. "I use a pipe, a little bit of a time when needed," he explains.

There are hundreds of such stores in the state, and as many as 400 in southern California alone. The people who run them are members of the state's latest entrepreneurial class, calling themselves "caregivers." The feds call them something else. Case in point is a young man of many faces named Luke Scarmazzo.

He has been described as a businessman, a hip hop artist, and, by the government, as a drug dealer. Asked which of the descriptions apply to him, Scarmazzo says, "I'm a hip hop artist first. 'Cause that's what I've always been. And I'm a businessman second. But I'm not a drug dealer."

But he does acknowledge that he is in the drug business.

And like a growing number of people in the business of selling medical marijuana, Scarmazzo found himself and his dispensary on the receiving end of an unannounced, early morning raid by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

"They handcuffed me and put me on my kitchen table. And one of 'em walked up to me and held his badge up and said, 'You knew I'd be coming soon,'" Scarmazzo tells Safer.

But Scarmazzo says he didn't have a hint that the feds were on his case.

The DEA hits a handful of businesses like Scarmazzo's every few weeks. And in his case, business was good: in the town of Modesto, population 200,000, he sold $4.5 million worth of medical marijuana in two years.

And he was paid a good salary, too. "I took home $13,000 a month," he says. "I was working a lot of hours."

Scarmazzo’s lawyer, Tony Capozzi, says the business was above-board, by the book, and perfectly legal in California.

"We think this is selective prosecution," Capozzi says.

Selected, Capozzi says because of a high profile video Scarmazzo had made. In some scenes, he's a well-tailored businessman, a caregiver. But in other shots, he's a different man, flaunting money, pot, babes, and attitude, in a manner more in tune with drug dealing than care-giving.

"Do you not think that it's easy to see that video as him…being a smart ass…and saying, you know, 'Come and catch me if you can'?" Safer asks.

"In hindsight, yes," Capozzi agrees.

[AB390]

Californians have an historic opportunity to legalize pot in our state. Attorney General Eric Holder has said he will only prosecute those who break both federal AND state marijuana laws. Assemblymember Tom Ammino introduced legislation in February that would legalize marijuana for adults.

If you live in California and favor legalizing marijuana for adults, <b>YOU</b> can make a difference. Tell your state representatives to support California Assembly Bill 390. It's easy. Visit yes390.org

Our state representatives WILL support this bill if we can get enough people to contact them. Tell your friends. Post the yes390.org link on your Facebook page. Print it on handouts and leave them in cafes. Let's start a grass roots movement!

[erasmus6]

"Perhaps if you are too stoned,"

should read: "Perhaps if you are NOT too stoned."

[erasmus6]

"I told her she could make that choice when she was grown up, and that was that." posted by amaterasu101

If you really believe that, after seeing you with marijuana, alcohol or whatever, that she is going to wait till she is grown up, you are a moron.

[erasmus6]

"What dangers are your neighbors posing?" posted by amaterasu101

You must be in a smoke filled haze right now. Obviously you can''t read.
I never said anything about there being a danger. I asked some questions. Perhaps if you are too stoned, mayby YOU could answer them? Of course I already know what the answer will be, from a pot smoker.

[amaterasu101]

Oh, and BTW, erasmus6, I am curious... What dangers are your neighbors posing? And if it smells like skunk...then it''s likely DAM'' fine weed! LOL!

[amaterasu101]

erasmus6, my child, you are funny!

Yes, as one who, rather than come home from work and pour alcohol into my system in front of my child, I ingest marijuana. Now, just because I do that does not mean she cannot make her own choices when she is an adult. She expressed interest once, I told her she could make that choice when she was grown up, and that was that.

THEN you imply that my use of the term "medicated" means I wan''t even on topic! LOL! I meant, of course, MEDICATED WITH MARIJUANA. (Let''s not go into the semantics of "medicated" vs. "high" here.)

AND, the blood tests are a positive/negative. This gives NO information about one''s current mental state.

Best of luck to you in any efforts to dictate what other can and can''t do based on your personal feelings.

[erasmus6]

"I know one thing post does not smell the same as it did when I smoked it, now it smells like SKUNK." posted by ME

"post" should read "pot"

[erasmus6]

Posted by amaterasu101 at 05:22 PM : Jan 02, 2008

I have done my research and we are not talking about medication. I find it funny how everyone brings stuff that isn''t related into the conversation. Must be because they can''t find fault with anything I have said but because they are on the defensive they have to come up with something even though it doesn''t apply.

And I already said that it wasn''t worth them doing the bloodtests. And just because the pot stays in the bloodstream for awhile does not meant they can''t use that. Obviously if the person had smoked it that day the concentration of it in the bloodstream would be more than if the last time they smoked it was a week ago. And if the person is acting stoned and the accident is there fault and it does show up in the blood stream then they CAN use it. I don''t know how things operate in your country but in mine that is how it works.

[erasmus6]

I have a question for you rushman and brian, just curious.

Would you make a ceremony out of and "introduce" pot into your kids life, like klingon69?

Do you let your children see you smoking pot?

To me that is being irresponsible. I did not tell my children that I had smoked pot. I wanted them to grow up and make that decision for themselves NOT because mommy and daddy did it. No matter what you think about pot,it is a drug and I am not going to be responsible for introducing them to any drug.

Also, I have neighbors behind me where the kids are 16 and 17 and they along with their parents go in their shed and smoke it. They smoke it before school/work and then when they come home and off and on for the rest of the night. And in the summer they were smoking it all day long. My question is do you think that it is right that I can''t go out and sit and enjoy my yard without smelling the stench? In fact I can smell it in the house with the doors and windows closed. Do I have the right to be able to breath clean air in my yard and in my house?

I know one thing post does not smell the same as it did when I smoked it, now it smells like SKUNK.

[amaterasu101]

I shake my head... "Ah, erasmus6, dear." brianbwb said, "...accident statistics show accidents related to marijuana consumption to be almost non existent."

And you said, "They just don''''t know the accident was related to marijuana consumption because they rarely do blood tests to find out."

It turns out that, a) doing a blood test is irrelevant since the drug will show up a week, two weeks, even a month after use. So doing such a test is a waste of money. It can prove nothing. So OF COURSE they''re not "doing a blood test."

and b) there have been a number of tests/studies done with medicated drivers and "sober" drivers. Though the results showed no *statistical* difference in scores, the *actual* difference usually shows the medicated individuals as doing slightly better.

Do your research.

[erasmus6]

"But you say that it is harmful. You really need to do some research. Even officers know the facts relating marijuana to alcohol and other drugs. Here in Texas, since September 1, 2007, if you are caught with 4 oz. or less of pot, all the officers can do is give a citation. HMMMM....I wonder why?????" posted by rushman71

It has nothing to do with whether it is harmful or not. Cigarettes are harmful and they don''t do anything about that do they?

You are the one that needs to do the research, I already have.

Are you saying that smoke is good for your lungs?

Are you saying that smoking pot doesn''t affect your memory?

Are you saying pot doesn''t make depression worse?

Are you saying that pot doesn''t affect peoples driving?

If you are, then you are an idiot and there is no point in discussing anything further with you.

And those things I just listed are only a few of the things that it does. They are finding more and more everyday. Remember, years ago they didn''t think that it was possible to land on the moon. We didn''t have antibiotics. As years go by we find out more and more new things. Just like how cell phones alter your cells in your head and are causing more and more brain tumors. But the people who are addicted to having the phone glued to their head 24/7 can''t do without it.:)

[erasmus6]

"Your description sure sounds more like LSD. But whatever it is, that sure is not what pot does to you." posted by rushman71

Okay obviously you haven''t smoked pot then because anyone that has knows that food tastes so much better. Why do you think they give it to people that have had chemo? So they will EAT. In fact the downfall to smoking a joint all the time is because most people over eat! That is a well known fact. Ever heard of the MUNCHIES? GEEZ

Now I and my husband smoked pot for years. I, not everyday but my husband did and believe me he and everyone else that I knew that did had one hell of a time stopping. In fact the only reason he did was because once our kids got to the age that they were questioning our behavior etc, I demanded it stop. And please do not tell me it doesn''t change your behavior or I will definitely know that you are an idiot.

[rushman71]

erasmus6: The main reason why pot is illegal is because of it''s production. The government can''t control it. But you say that it is harmful. You really need to do some research. Even officers know the facts relating marijuana to alcohol and other drugs. Here in Texas, since September 1, 2007, if you are caught with 4 oz. or less of pot, all the officers can do is give a citation. HMMMM....I wonder why?????

[erasmus6]

"erasmus6: thanks fo rincluding yourself" posted by bks59

I don''t live in denial. I live in reality. But then I like reality over lala Land. But then I guess if you have a life that SUCKS I guess maybe I can see why someone would feel the need to smoke it everyday.

[ianlou]

"...I am not talking about smoking pot once in awhile or just on the weekend, I am talking about EVERYDAY."
Posted by erasmus6

Lots of people are hellbent on slowly killing themselves. Their suicide weapons range from Drugs to Alcohol to Fast Food to Little Debbie Products to excessive Marathon Running.

The main problem with Pot is, in some, it kills ambition.
In the grand scheme of things, this should land fairly low on the list of addictive poisons.

I don''t want my government baby sitting it citizens, I guess you do.

[rushman71]

"And you have seen them when they have had to go without? Or have they EVER gone without? And you are telling me that when they have run out they aren''''t cranky and in a massive hurry to get out there and get some more?" Posted by erasmus6

Again, as I stated before, these are the conditions of people on crack and/or meth. All the people that I know that do smoke pot CAN handle life without it.

"You obviously don''t know much about mental dependency. Take smoking cigarettes, it is both a mental and physical addiction." Posted by erasmus6

Now, I do smoke cigarettes and do know that I am mentally and physically addicted to smoking them, because of the drug nicotene that is within them. Nicotene is the MOST addictive drug on this planet!!! But it seems to me that YOU don''t know a thing about mental addiction when it comes to marijuana, because it ISN''T ADDICTIVE!!! The only way you would know is if you done it yourself!!!

[erasmus6]

"there is not one statistic of an individual dying from marijuna overdose..." posted by bks59

I don''t think there is a question about that is there? Has anyone ever said there was a problem with that?


My discussion is NOT about whether it is worse than crack or alcohol cause we all know it isn''t. We know it isn''t physically addictive. My discussion is about whether or not it is at all harmful. The answer is YES it is. NO not harmful in the way that alcohol and other drugs are but it still can be harmful. They are finding out more and more about it everyday. But the pot smokers don''t of course want to believe it. Hmmm, I wonder why?

There is no question that it is safer but it still can be harmful. Smoke PERIOD is harmful. It affects the memory BIGTIME. And if you are driving under the influence it can be just as deadly. It also is a well known fact that it makes people with depression, worse. How do we know that the worsening of depression caused by it hasn''t contributed to someone committing suicide?

[bks59]

erasmus6:
thanks fo rincluding yourself.

[erasmus6]

I can see that there are a few of you here that must be in major denial.

[bks59]

there is not one statistic of an individual dying from marijuna overdose, yet every day some body dies form alcohol poisoning, and then there is the devistation of years of drinking where there is multi-organ failure, 150 proof alcohol is toxic and does kill, yet it is leagal!