An April 20, 2013 article on CNN that coincided with International Marijuana Day offers a good look at the current state of marijuana sale and use in America. The article also cites a Pew Research poll in which an astounding 52 percent of respondents expressed their support of cannabis legalization in the country. Yet despite a growing clamor to legalize marijuana, several states across the country remain steadfast in their decision to ban the substance.

Only 18 U.S. States, thus far, have legalized the use of cannabis, and even then, this drug can only be used strictly for specific medicinal indications (such as for the treatment of glaucoma or for the relief of intense pain). Yet even with proper identification and documentation systems in place to regulate the distribution of this drug, there is always the risk of this regulated substance falling into devious hands. Fortunately, secure medical marijuana dispensaries can supply cannabis to those who genuinely need the substance for their medical conditions.

Strict control of the distribution of marijuana is highly necessary in order to prevent abuse. Dispensaries are thus designed with optimum security in mind so that marijuana can only be obtained and distributed for legal sales activities. These fail-safe measures ensure that medical cannabis can only be accessed by authorized dealers so that the drug will ultimately find its way to those who truly need it.

Dispensaries can be compared to ATMs in that they both distribute just enough of a valued product while protecting it. A crook may eventually break into the vault, but only with tremendous effort. Medical marijuana dispensaries, on the other hand, can dissuade criminal activity due to the presence of security guards and even increased foot traffic area in the surrounding area.

Companies closely involved in the development of the medical marijuana industry, such as Medicine Dispensing Systems, provide secure and effective dispensing devices used in accredited medical dispensaries to enable the proper sale of medical marijuana and at the same time prevent potential abuse or illegal activity. Trained medical experts will be in charge of distribution, while patients will need to show proper medical prescriptions before they can purchase medical marijuana. With strict regulation of medical marijuana, substance or recreational use can be averted.

The sale of medical marijuana may face stiff opposition in parts of the country. However, the outright banning of the drug in the past indirectly caused a meteoric rise in criminal activities related to its distribution and consumption, which has since prompted legislators in various states to seriously consider the legalization of cannabis. In any case, dispensaries and companies like Medicine Dispensing Systems shall certainly continue to facilitate secure and regulated access to medical marijuana.

The proliferation of legal medical marijuana dispensaries has always been a thorny issue. However, if the assertion of medical cannabis advocates is founded, these dispensaries can actually reduce crime, and create additional advantages. Aaron Sankin of The Huffington Post reported that the opening of legal cannabis dispensary in a San Francisco neighborhood reduced instances of burglary and provided additional business opportunities.

Prior to the opening of the dispensary (which has since closed), the neighborhood was fraught with the usual inner city problems like illegal drugs, loitering, and graffiti. The dispensary had security guards, and generated increased foot traffic in the area, thereby which serving as a deterrent against crime. Vacant industrial spaces that once attracted criminal activity are better utilized as dispensaries. Sankin’s article further states that the dispensary allowed cannabis users to obtain the medicinal herb legally, and in turn, generate revenue for the local government.

Meanwhile, communities around Oaksterdam University in Oakland City, California also experienced a drop in crime rates ever since a legal medical marijuana dispensary opened in their area. This is why some residents were not so pleased when the federal government shut the dispensary down last year. Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan, among other Oakland city leaders, stated that since dispensaries are strictly regulated, there has been no instance of crime or violent incidents in the location.

A cannabis dispensary follows strict operational regulations; with its customers likewise needing to meet specific criteria. For instance, clients can use the marijuana strictly for medicinal, and never for recreational purposes. On their part, proprietors will need to go through the proper paperwork and protocol to avoid any trouble with the law—a factor that justifies the need for a well-run and legal marijuana dispensing system.

Solutions such as those offered by companies like Medicine Dispensing Systems provide for a standard marijuana dispensing protocol that meets the needs of every customer. These enhanced methods enable clinics to organize their inventory and streamline their sales documentation processes. This way, clinics can comply with all legal requirements and thereby avoid any shutdown attempt.

Recently, there have been attempts to shut down the country’s largest medical marijuana dispensary in California. However, due to the fact that the business is considered legal under state law, the federal judge rejected this motion. While the Obama administration reportedly said that it would not target legal marijuana clinics in its crackdown on dispensaries, the legal cannabis industry may still be under threat.

Authorities may argue that the medical cannabis industry may result in an increased crime rate, although studies indicate that this isn’t the case at all. Aaron Sankin’s article further states that a 2011 UCLA study showed that the presence of legal marijuana dispensaries has not led to an increase of violent or property crime rates. Strict compliance, which can be accomplished through an effective system, thus remains the best defense.