Where will the plots of land set aside to grow medicinal marijuana be located? There isn’t any part of the islands — except perhaps the northern ones — that is remote enough, secluded enough, difficult enough to get to, to be safe from constant thievery. Electric fences would not be enough, barbed wire would not be enough, to keep anyone from stealing the plants allegedly being grown for medicinal purposes.
It would take armed guards, stationed around the perimeter 24/7, maybe even accompanied by pit bulldogs, to protect the investment of those who would grow marijuana for medicinal purposes. Which could get rather expensive, as well as labor intensive.
One could, perhaps, grow the marijuana in covered warehouses — out of sight of passers-by. But still, it wouldn’t be long before their location would become known, and again, armed guards would be required to keep the crops safe from thievery — from the casual smoker, individual addicts or criminal gangs. And who knows what the effect of artificial lighting — another cost! — would be on the marijuana itself.
Also of concern would be the facilities where the plant produce would be packaged for sale. Those too would need to be heavily guarded. As would the pharmacies that dispensed the marijuana upon doctors’ orders.
Almost seems like the biggest boost to the economy would be in the area of providing jobs to security guards.
Have the consequences of such a proposal really been thought through?
RUTH TIGHE
Tanapag, Saipan
