Although the closing of the dispensaries didn’t affect the Lansing economy, according to Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope, it seems the city has forgotten about the main group affected by this law — the patients.

One reason dispensaries were made illegal is because loopholes in previous laws made marijuana easily accessible for people looking to use the drug for recreational purposes. However, 70 percent of residents voted to legalize medical marijuana practices. People are asking for something, and the state is failing to take their needs into consideration when making laws and policies.

It’s understandable that Michigan government officials are looking to crack down on people who are using marijuana for recreational purposes, but there are citizens who medically require it.

There are other ways to go about cracking down on illegal marijuana usage without putting medical patients in danger.

Medical marijuana patients now have to go through much more trouble to receive their marijuana. Many patients have experienced inconsistency when it comes to caregivers, and growing marijuana in a house or backyard is a hassle for caregivers and lawmakers.

Additionally, there is not much oversight on caregivers. It’s easier for those looking for recreational usage of marijuana to get it from caregivers than from a dispensary because there is little supervision.

Patients who are experiencing severe medical conditions should not have to worry about the added stress of obtaining their medical marijuana. When crafting and interpreting laws, patients should be the priority, rather than those who might be getting marijuana illegally.

With Lansing’s economy being in the state that it is in, it seems dispensaries would bring business into the city. Although Swope said the overall economy has not been affected drastically since the state outlawed dispensaries, they likely came with a few advantages.

Dispensaries were just like any other store, they had to pay rent to landlords, pay property taxes, pay for licenses to sell and people traveled downtown to get to them — positive results that are no longer attainable due to the ban.

The court decision fails to take into consideration those who rely on marijuana for medical purposes.

Although officials might be trying to cut down on illegal usage, they are forgetting those who truly need marijuana, ultimately causing more harm than good.