VOA标准英语2012--Marijuana Grower Supply Store Opens in Washington DC

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Franchise³ owner Alex Wong decided⁴ to open the store after seeing his mother suffer through cancer treatment. He thinks marijuana could have relieved some of the side-effects.

“Since my mother’s passing from cancer approximately seven years ago, you know, I saw the pain and suffering that she had gone through. The inability to eat properly and take morphine. You know, why does she have to go through so much physical hardships?” asked Wong.

With stores in California, Arizona, and Washington, weGrow sells the tools, fertilizers and growing systems to bring marijuana cultivation⁵ into the mainstream⁶. Some market experts predict medical marijuana will grow into a $9-billion industry within five years. Dhar Mann is weGrow's founder⁷ and CEO.

“Within the next couple of months we are going to be expanding within Arizona and California as well as opening new stores in Delaware, New Jersey⁸, and Washington state,” said Mann.

WeGrow doesn’t sell marijuana, the seeds to grow it, or any of the paraphernalia⁹ used to ingest it. Federal law prohibits the cultivation, sale, or use of marijuana. Sixteen states and Washington D.C. have passed laws, however, allowing its use for ailments¹⁰ like anxiety, back pain, and the side-effects from HIV/AIDS and cancer medications. 

Retired¹¹ CIA analyst¹² Dick Kennedy brought his dog to the store opening, to support calls to end the national ban on marijuana. 

“It was very clear 40 years ago that it is a less dangerous drug than alcohol or tobacco. So prohibiting it is really not very sensible public policy,” said Kennedy.

But federal law enforcement officials have begun to crack down. This week they raided Oaksterdam University in Oakland, California, a marijuana trade school and medical dispensary. And several states and the city of Washington have delayed their dispensary programs for fear of federal prosecution¹³. 

“Our hope is that a long-term trend will be deference¹⁴ to the states so that they can regulate medical marijuana or marijuana for adults in whatever way they think is appropriate for the citizens of the state,” said Steve Fox, who is with the National Cannabis Industry association in Washington,

Lawmakers in five states have written a letter demanding the federal government end its assault on medical marijuana. 

Despite the controversy¹⁵, weGrow sees a growing market for its supplies, and plans to press forward with expansion.

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