I am going to go ahead and say it. I know many people hesitate to make public claims like this, but I am going to say it anyway.
I'm not the least bit scared of medical marijuana dispensaries.
Many of us have known about the War on Drugs since childhood through DARE programs at school. While we underwent this anti-drug education, we also took in the strong pop culture presence of drug use. Check out this alphabetized wikipedia list of drug films - too many to count. Popular shows like Weeds or Californication have raised the conversation about drugs in our social consciousness so much so that magazines like the New Yorker are commenting on their value.
When we think of marijuana, we rarely think of medical emergencies. Medical marijuana has not only been a useful tool for some cancer patients and patients with terminal illnesses; for some it has been the only tool to deal with pain. Watching a loved one manage pain at the end of his or her life or while battling an illness is heart-wrenching. Anything that can ease the pain of the process seems worthwhile. Perhaps recognition of the value of medical marijuana for patients is what led Mainers to support legalizing medical marijuana and dispensaries for treatment.
It would seem though that fear has led some Maine towns to delay establishment of dispensaries. Today the Press Herald reported that Waterville has put a moratorium on dispensaries for six months. The Waterville town Mayor mentioned the possibility of banning dispensaries altogether, even though state law forbis towns from banning dispensiaries. Some council members expressed a desire to limit the places where dispensaries could be set up rather than a desire to ban them altogether. The town of Waterville should move quickly to allow dispensaries, so Maine patients in need will have the access they deserve.