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• vandalism near dispensaries <br />• threats made by dispensary employees to employees of other businesses <br />• citizens worried they may become a victim of crime because of their proximity to <br />dispensaries <br />In addition, the following observations (from citizen activists assisting in data gathering) were made <br />about the marijuana dispensaries: <br />• Identification was not requested for individuals who looked under age 18 <br />• Entrance to business was not refused because of lack of identification <br />• Individuals were observed loitering in the parking lots <br />• Child- oriented businesses and recreational areas were situated nearby <br />• Some businesses made no attempt to verify a submitted physician's recommendation <br />Dispensary Patients By Age <br />Ages 66 -70, 19, 1 <br />Ages 61 -65, 47, 2 0 ) <br />Ages 56 -60, 89, 3 <br />Ages 51 -55. 173. 6 <br />Ages 46 -50, 210, 7% <br />Ages 41 -45, 175, 6°/ <br />Ages 36 -40, 270, 9 <br />Ages 31 -35, 302, 10% <br />Ages 71 -75, 4, 0% <br />Ages 76 -80, 0, 0% <br />Ages 81 -85, 0, 0% <br />No Age listed, 118, 4% <br />Ages 17 -20, 364, 12% <br />Ages 21 -25, 719, 23% <br />Ages 26 -30, 504, 17% <br />An analysis of patient records seized during search warrants at several dispensaries show that 52% <br />of the customers purchasing marijuana were between the ages of 17 to 30. 63% of primary <br />caregivers purchasing marijuana were between the ages of 18 through 30. Only 2.05% of customers <br />submitted a physician's recommendation for AIDS, glaucoma, or cancer. <br />Why these businesses were deemed to be criminal - -not compassionate: <br />The medical marijuana businesses were deemed to be criminal enterprises for the following reasons: <br />• Many of the business owners had histories of drug and violence - related arrests. <br />• The business owners were street -level marijuana dealers who took advantage of Prop. 215 in <br />an attempt to legitimize marijuana sales for profit. <br />• Records, or lack of records, seized during the search warrants showed that all the owners <br />were not properly reporting income generated from the sales of marijuana. Many owners <br />were involved in money laundering and tax evasion. <br />• The businesses were selling to individuals without serious medical conditions. <br />• There are no guidelines on the amount of marijuana which can be sold to an individual. For <br />© 2009 California Police Chiefs Assn. 23 All Rights Reserved <br />