I once met a guy in a parking lot in the projects in Augusta, Ga., to buy a bag of pot.
It was a drive-by street purchase of the most-stereotypical variety, made through the window of my buddy’s beat-down truck in the middle of the night, in the shadow of the seediest public-housing complex in town. I used to go to a van in the same parking lot to buy diapers and laundry soap with food stamps, which is a different story, but it tells you the kind of place I was dealing with.
It sucked.
The caregiver, so to speak, thrust a folded piece of paper into my friend’s hand and snatched his cash—then someone smashed a bottle in front of his truck. Our new friend told us we’d better split before the crowd at the, er, dispensary got out of hand, so we did. We sped off, only to find the paper stuffed with crumbled-up leaves. The skinny white kids didn’t go back for a refund—it was a lesson learned.
Things have changed.
Now I can call Desert Dawn Caregivers, a collective run by a local caregiver and his patient-wife, and have my meds delivered anywhere I need them—without broken bottles or the threat of arrest or violence.
Desert Dawn’s caregiver, Brian, met me in a coffee shop, but he offered to meet me anywhere I found comfortable. He will come to your home or meet you in a park or whatever. He was very quick and met me within an hour of my phone call.
It was a little surreal purchasing meds over a table in a coffee shop. What we did was completely legal—it was a patient-to-patient transfer with a donation for costs. Nonetheless, it was a little hard to shake that old familiar Don’t-Let-Anyone-See-Us vibe from back in the day. I got over it quickly.
Brian brought out a backpack with the meds—all he had at the time was Chemdog—and I kinda surreptitiously slipped him a cash donation for a small, pink bottle. (Brian was apparently wrong about this strain, which I have never had, being an indica. Most other sites across the World Wide Internets call it a sativa-dominant hybrid.) He is growing for himself, his wife and one other patient, for the time being, and offering his extra meds for other patients. He was between harvests when I met him, which left him a little short on variety, and he recently had some mold issues in his grow room and had to destroy several plants.
I found Brian to be a nice guy, if a little nervous. You can’t blame the guy, since he is meeting strangers who know he is carrying MMJ and possibly cash. Interestingly, Brian did not ask for my MMJ card, taking my word for it instead. Neither did I ask for his card, preferring instead to see how it all played out. There was no verification in either direction. I appreciate his willingness to help a stranger connect with meds at risk of life and limb, which sounds a little dramatic, but is true.
Overall, despite the lack of variety, I give Brian and Desert Dawn several thumbs up. I know I only have two, but they deserve several for convenience and the awesomeness of buying meds anywhere I want for a decent price. Go Brian.
Mr. Smith approves.
This article appears in May 31 – Jun 6, 2012.
Thank you Tucson Weekly/Mr. J.M. Smith. I am confident you’ve heard this one before but I do suffer from acute pain in my right leg. Over the counter Ibuprofen (800 mg’s) and my, somewhat, tolerance/threshold for pain I get by. I certainly would prefer the seed of the most high. Tax is good for Tucson. Just a citizen’s thought. God bless.
I’ll raise you one thumb: four thumbs, Mr. Smith and the Tucson Weekly, for publishing this column. You create a space for dialogue among members of this community about an important issue. Bravo!
Someone needs to lay off the stupid pills.
I agree with chasbass this column has informed me quite a bit. I still haven’t gotten a card as I am still a little leery of the whole thing. The more I learn though the more I think I will go ahead and get a one. Of course, there is no way I could ever pay those kind of prices. I live way out in the boonies though so I could grow my own. Now if I could only scrape up the money for the card. Sigh… Oh well, I still have my legal pain meds for now. I just hate being on them.
Actually, I meant I agree with ProudVet70.
Yeah!!! the prices are very “high” no pun intended, but the cost of the card is outrages.
You have to go to the appointed state Doctor $150. bucks, when your own Dr. could do the same thing, that’s were they get your records. Then you have to fill out all these forms on your own computer ( If you have one) and send the state another $150. bucks.
Buying from a dispensary is very expensive at $300. to $ 400. bucks an oz.
Let’s say you only require 1 oz. per month at $300.bucks a pop x 12 = $ 3600. bucks + the $ 300. the state gets comes to a whopping $ 3900. bucks a yr.
I don’t think this is what most people voted for…..These rules and regulations are made up by the Greedy people that want smaller government. Ha!
And that $300 overhead for the doctor and the state is YEARLY!! Every year, the state gets $150 for a tiny little card with a picture on it. It’s not the caregivers that are screwing the patients, it’s the ever-loving State!! This is NOT what we voted for!!
Not checking cards, “paying” for meds and dropping names. Oh. It’s legal. Right. I’m sure your caregiver is thrilled.
Seriously?? Do your readers a favor and READ THE LAW or quit writing this column. Please. You’re not doing patients who really need this any favors here.
straight up your an ass for telling everyone the guy didn’t ask for your card nor you his and then giving out his name and info you are going to get this guy in trouble you should just quit writing now before you get any good caregivers in trouble and for the record what you did was not legal
I have gotten great meds from Desert Dawn Caregivers since their start. Brian has been extremely anxious, as i am sure he told you his father just passed away. If he forgot to check your card he must have thought his wife did already. Your article was great, but you really hung him out to dry about the card. He made a mistake with a preoccupied mind and that is all anyone is talking about. It is sad to see you soil the reputation of one of the very few good caregivers in Tucson. Please focus on the issues, like the 25 mile rule. You have a chance to have your voice heard, represent us well. Please