IN DEFENSE OF MARIJUANA

I'm writing about a recent meeting declining a medical marijuana dispensary.

These meetings have happened quite a few times, and never mentioned
on the news or in the papers before they happen. How are the people
who want to support them to know about them? They seem to be kept
secret until afterward, then reporters seem to wonder why there was
no opposition present.

I have friends who smoke, and it mellows them out and lessens their
pain. I have been with a couple of drunks over the years. They were
both very abusive when they were drinking. When they sobered up,
they were oh, so sorry for being monsters.

With marijuana, I've never seen anyone get abusive, just laid back and mellow.

Marijuana does not lead a smoker to do other, more dangerous drugs.
If one does, then they would have anyway. Anything you smoke is
likely to do damage to your lungs, but people still smoke
cigarettes, and they are legal. Booze is legal if you're over 21,
and look at all the damage that causes.

Then there's the problem of prison overcrowding. So many people who
cultivate and sell weed are in prison, with drunk drivers, child
rapists and murderers. What kind of sense does that make?

Legalize pot and you will be taking out a lot of prison population.
You would still have meth producers and heroin smugglers, but they
are the real bad guys, not the pot sellers.

Linda Collard

Nipomo