I understand what you are saying, but at the same time I disagree because too many good people have been harassed or put away that were playing by the rules and not looking to make a profit. So I say go ahead and make a profit to pay for your future legal fees.

As long as the co-op is respecting local city law enforcement and nearby businesses by keeping their customers from hanging around outside, I don't see what people could complain about. Most I've been to are very discrete and you would never know it was a co-op unless you walked inside, but if you asked people and told them what they did many might still complain just because they have a personal bias against the thought of somebody selling marijuana, even if its for medical reasons.

Many people also assume medical marijuana is for near death people, so when they see someone like me that on the outside looks like a typical 28 year old walking in, they might assume I don't really need it and then have an issue with that co-op. It all comes down to people's bias against marijuana, some people just need to lighten up because I think the majority of co-ops are run very professionally and do a good job at not causing problems for their surroundings.

"Illegitimi non carborundum"

I love that

Holy fucking crap. I've never heard anything more ridiculous in my life. I recommend starting butthole-stretching exercises right away.

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Holy Fucking Crap, that is funny!!! Won't fucking let me rep ya for that one, but I would if I could.....

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I think the place to start would be just like any other business
you should obtian a california sellers permit
keep records of your sales (donotions)lol
and pay your taxes!!!!

1st the reason ALL you dudes worry about going to jail is because your all talkin about doin unlawful shit

2nd all i hear here is about makin $$$$$ and not helping sick people

just remember what the fed is really worried about is REGULATION and getting THEIR end

you wanna open a co op and NOT go to jail???

make sure you got all your paperwork in order i.e. here in calif the law states that ALL counties must have a Med Marj county ID AS WELL as your Drs reccom. if you live in a county that does not have such a prog go to another and get one of theirs

abide by the law and grow only what you are authorized to. here in calif its 12 plants 6 in flower and 6 in veg

DONT have more med marj on hand that allowed by law again the "base" here in calif is 8oz if you have more than that after YOU ARE arrested the law says that you are entitled to a hearing to demonstrate and present argument to the court that what you DO have is what you NEED to rec benefit. Clinics are allowed 2.5 lbs.

DOCUMENT all the plants you have, that means if you are growing for some RECCOMENDED friends make sure you ID all your plants with their names and Drs name and have copies of all your paperwork on the premisis inclusive of your "caregiver" agreements.

RECORD whatever the DRIED net weight is and ducument where every stick goes.

whats tragic is when all the medical marijuana users get a break from the voters the black market guys try to find some way to abuse it

medical marijuana is NOT for the making of PROFIT but to ease the suffering of the sick and diseased

you break the law you go to jail

I don't know if you have first hand exp or not, all your suggestions "sound" great, but in fact no matter how you cut it, you are opening yourself up to "Federal Prosecution" no matter how by the book you are. It does not matter, at a minimum you will be charged with possession, intent to distribute, and some other weird charge that amounts to pinning you with being behind an "operation" to distribute, the exact ver batum wording escapes me. Brass tax is that no matter how by the book you are, no matter how legit you are, the Feds can do multiple things to you. They can break into and enter your clinic, take anything and everything from the medicine to money in donation jars for other non-profit organization, i.e. (march of dimes, ect...), AND if that's not enough they may even pay a visit to your residence, break in, steal anything they want, arrest you and charge you. Or, they could just take all your money and medicine and not do anything to you personally. That really depends on specifically which county you may be in, even in federal court, you get a jury, and some are known to be harder to receive convictions for than others. (Imagine that, somewhere an overwhelming majority of citizens pass referendums, and the fed can't make them acknowledge federal laws that directly contradict what the citizens of the state voted in...hmmm?

For instance in L.A,they recently just went into a clinic, took all the meds and money and left, no arrests? Why??? They do not want to go to trial and lose, it would set a president. So instead they just vandalize and steal in hopes of intimidating clinic owners.

In the current political climate, you are either dumb or ballsy if you want to pursue this, at least in the I.E.

L.A. has moratoriums, so you would really have to do your homework to find a county and city or un-incorporated area where they were already politically set up to allow for it, and even then,
The FEDS!

Read the link in my sig, Ronnie did run the only clinic in Corona, now he is up shit creek and fighting for his life. He was only charged with the bare minimum, no money laundering, tax evasion, weapons, nothing like that. Just possession, distribution, running the clinic, (again the 3rd charge has to do with running the clinic and employing people that were breaking federal law as well by just working there.)
Even with 2.5 lbs, in the clinic you will be doing federal time, look up their sentencing schedule, it is pretty cut and dry. If you are running a clinic, I don't realistically see how having only 2.5 lbs would work. You would have to be open from noon to 5 or spending 19 hours a day meeting with vendors and getting medicine. Not to mention, I really am not sure how you would cover costs with only 2.5 lbs, seriously, you meet with 1-3 vendors everyday to re-up, you have to pay security, rent, ins, wages, taxes, attorney fees, accountants, payroll, and oh yeah, the 2.5 lbs of medicine every day or every other day. Not very practical

Delivery services seem like an idea, except the DEA can easily figure out whom is operating these, request delivery, and you know the rest. Would they? Who the hell knows, maybe not, maybe. It's a big gamble, probably wont' work out in the end either way unless lots of things change. You should be content with privately growing your own and feeling reasonably secure in the fact that it is a fat chance in hell that anything will happen if you are following state laws, just don't sell it. Good luck.

Oh yeah and Ziggy is absolutely right about talking about even talking about it at all, this summer the feds used another un named weed tracking forum to "pinpoint" their targets, although there was alot more behind why they picked who they did. But that was one thing they did, they also had 2 agents get legit medical recs and go into the clinics, bait people into saying shit, buy medicine to use as evidence, and release doctored video to feed into their propaganda machine. Don't think for a second they don't visit this site!

whatever happened to the constitution :-(

I guess reefer madness is an exception to these fundamental bill of rights.. We need our MMJ man :-( and for those who don't it is unpleasant taking the other shitty pharmaceutical drugs! Least any side effects of weed are managable :-(

3 sad faces in one post, fucking DEA

*Just browsing through the thread*

Whats wrong with having a goal of making good money WHILE providing safe access to medicine to patients?

Im sure if he started this business hundreds maybe even thousands would be thanking him for delivering! Hell he might even save someones life!


Get money

Everyone has mouths to feed. Everyone has a purpose in life too. Money isn't everything, but it sure helps. Anyone that would beg to differ please feel free to start giving away your money, I call "First Dibs!"!!

if your want to really do something , i suggest not a dispensary type of setting for the reason of the in your face to the Dea. The laws of Ca states of a card issue program for each county, even thou most don't get along with this. But hell, you have ss, dr lic, ect don't you? Ca has statewide medical marijuana identification card program that is honored in all counties of their state..thru your county health and safety department. But not all counties are with this , and they are fighing the laws that allows safe access .
a small coop is the way to go. especially if you have space to grow for some patients in your area. We have one in our area. Paitents whom grow together in unity saves time and energy on the big time scoring medicine and it depends upon what your doing, either inside or outside. The laws, if your have read them explains everything . What is allowed and what they won't allow. But our civil rights are invaded by the fact that the Federal won't accept this, to me is a contridiction to their own laws when they allow a federal stamp to some but not to all. you want to open a coop, go for it... not a dispensary for that will take you down , but a small coop, with a ca recomendation will also send you into prove that your a patent in the legal system. But if you have a card, it allows you to grow, per ther state of ca. even thou Prop 215 has been around, sb420 says it all. Your protected as long as you have that card and doing what is allowed holding that card. read the laws .... thats all i can say then you will know what is expected . i understand that many will disagree on the card program, but what the heck, it works. If they come to your door, they have been shown the card, you have the guidlines of product your allow to have per your dr recomendation, they must call the number on the card, once its checked they must leave. But do not let them into the house/. Let them check it first... it works. they must follow the laws of the state. But only grow what is allowed, no more.. reinbursment is also allowed pe sb420. like i said.. more coops need to open to care for our own safely. unity amoungst patient, not a dispensing retail outlet but only not for profit. So if i have to jump and get the card to safely grow i will. What is one more card? credit cards, social security cards, drivers licence, medical cards, they all have our information.. Cameras on every light, cell phones buged. Really, if they want us, they know where to find us....

If you're thinking of opening something because you think it would be neat to be able to legally have access to all the weed you want, then:

1) No matter how legal it is in your state it will still be illegal, and you will be prosecuted and/or persecuted.
2) You would achieve your goal more readily if you were to do like stinky, and be a caregiver (AKA weed grower), and work your way up to over 30 varieties.

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Hey ppl so is anyone out there gonna answer the question?
the op asked HOW TO open a co- op etc in the state of california?
what are the steps?
?business liscence?
?seller's permit?
?attourny?
the op ask A simple question FOCUS plz

The question has been answered.
It is a catch 22, if you do everything "by the book" then you open yourself up to federal prosecution whenever the DEA wants to come get you.
You are better off staying underground, you are lots less likely to be prosecuted or persecuted, since the DEA is really lazy and just focused on low hanging fruit, and not people that are actual criminals in violation of their own state as well as federal laws. It's much easier to find someone who is openly operating in broad daylight publicly than it is a criminal that is staying off the radar.

You should probably read the entire thread.
And if it is a simple question as you put it, then why don't you fucking answer it for all of us after you learn how to spell or use a spell check at the very least.

and the worst part of it all " I never learened to read!"

Obviously.

every one has their own thoughts about opening a clinic
If you have choosen this business to maintain a rich and opulant life style then please and I repeat once again please find a nice safe place to hide in,make sure you have some one you trust to hold enough money for your legal defense[you will need it]when they close your doors you lose every thing you have gained and a whole lot more,ask Don Duncan,after his club was robbed by the terrorest DEA and all assets frozen-yes frozen- his home was threatened with sizure for sales tax-which was in one account that was frozen and he had to arrange a payment plan with the state franchise tax board,in total his shop was robbed and over 500,000.00 dollers and all the meds,now call me stupid but gee I fail to see how this morps into getting rich from dispenserys,I know,I have been there-done that-and have pictures,there is a whole lot of finger pointing and would of should of and could ofs going on here,walk a mile in the shoes of the freedom fighters that dare to open even with all the risks involved,if you think its for the money or the so called glory then think again,most of us that choose to do this do it for our own reasons-mine was to insure the best meds for a loved one and that was evolved into a lifes work,now I hope every one feels good with the meds that they have,and thank those dumb guys that went so far as to thumb their noses at the man-all it takes for evil men to run amok is for good men[and women ] to do nothing,join ASA,or NORML or any other org. that are fighting for your right to have good MMJ,if every one spent as much time fighting for their rights as they do fighting each other this would not even be a topic.
take a moment today to talk to one person,just one,anyone, about this wonderful herb that has such power,look at the money spent to keep it illegal,if we all spent one doller,yes just one doller on helping the fight then we would win this battle in a few months,money runs this world and ASA,NORML and all other orgs need you,join the fight,don't stay on the side lines,we need you and believe me you surley need us.
Stay safe and bless all the patients that rely on MMJ,you are why we fight this battle-not the money,not the time in jail not the fun in having our lifes ripped apart,patients are the only reason.

Hi all
I did a bit o researchin
step
1. get your state id card(med)
2. hire business attourny to tell you all the liscence's and permit's you need in your area.

thats as far as i got anyone else?

Store front or delivery service, get a business license first. You are selling a Herb...in a Health Store enviornment, end of story...

But before you get that BL, sit down with a city or county elected official..ask what the feelings are about the community being served......do local LEO allow it? Has the city/county banned it?

You want to go against city and local officials, they will and do call in the DEA...but with the budget cuts now days, the DEA is not doing much with the medical marijuana states.

Federal Funds for CAMP, the program every fall, across the nation to go into parks and pull the plants..well, its been cut financially, from $560B to $170B...now that is sending message to the DEA...

Do a delivery service first and get your feet wet. Businesses are always chartible but they are NOT charity.........and therein lies the big difference.....Poor people cannot help poor people, rich people can...learn that simple principal for your business operation.

This is the most important thing, it cannot be stressed enough.

Like they say, "Nothing beats a higher education".
Oaksterdam U. Gives New Meaning to Higher Education

Have a good one!

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Welcome Back My Friends

Psycho_4_bud@yahoo.com

ok since nobody here wanted to answer the question
i started to research and ask questions so i got as i said before
1. get recomendation
2.get state MMJ id card
3.get a business laywer ,i called one they want $4000
to setup a non-profit co-op (i guess only legal way to open)
not sure, so i called the city business liscence center and they
told me they would not issue me a liscence and transferred
my call to the city attourny's office where they asked for my full name and told me that being a non-profit does'nt make over $1000
so it does'nt need a liscence. so i'm stuck i really wish someone would just answer this question! i know have undercover cops watching my house so i will continue my quest for the correct way to open a MMJ coop and then tell all of you how!
i will not be opening one as law enforcement in my city will have me arrested immediatly i will not be medicating with it anymore as i know they will arrest me and i am way to sick to goto jail without all my other medications, life sucks!

What city are you in!?

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Did you read the link I provided? That school is designed just for this purpose. I'm sure that these people have done the research to make sure things are done right.

Have a good one!

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Welcome Back My Friends

Psycho_4_bud@yahoo.com