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

Marijuana Grower Supply Store Opens in Washington DC

With a shovel¹ full of potting soil weGrow ceremonially put down roots as the first store catering² to medical marijuana growers in Washington.

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.

1 shovel   

n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出

参考例句：

• He was working with a pick and shovel.他在用镐和铲干活。
• He seized a shovel and set to.他拿起一把铲就干上了。

2 catering   

n. 给养

参考例句：

• Most of our work now involves catering for weddings. 我们现在的工作多半是承办婚宴。
• Who did the catering for your son's wedding? 你儿子的婚宴是由谁承办的？

3 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 cultivation   

n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成

参考例句：

• The cultivation in good taste is our main objective.培养高雅情趣是我们的主要目标。
• The land is not fertile enough to repay cultivation.这块土地不够肥沃，不值得耕种。

6 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

7 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

8 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

9 paraphernalia   

n.装备；随身用品

参考例句：

• Can you move all your paraphernalia out of the way?你可以把所有的随身物品移开吗？
• All my fishing paraphernalia is in the car.我的鱼具都在汽车里。

10 ailments   

疾病（尤指慢性病），不适( ailment的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His ailments include a mild heart attack and arthritis. 他患有轻度心脏病和关节炎。
• He hospitalizes patients for minor ailments. 他把只有小病的患者也送进医院。

11 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

12 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

13 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

14 deference   

n.尊重，顺从；敬意

参考例句：

• Do you treat your parents and teachers with deference?你对父母师长尊敬吗？
• The major defect of their work was deference to authority.他们的主要缺陷是趋从权威。

15 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。