MARIJUANA

SHERIFF IS OPPOSED

Please join me in voting "NO" on I-692! This is the latest version in a
sequence of attempts to make marijuana a "legitimate" drug without proper
evidence.

Contrary to what the supporters of this measure are trying to "spin" to the
voters of this state, it is not much improved in several critical areas:

1) Neither the American Medical Association, the Washington State Medical
Association, Dr. William O. Robertson (op-ed article, "Initiative 692 will
ease pain of many suffering patients," The Herald, Oct. 12) or any reliable
medical research data supports the spin that marijuana is a beneficial
medicinal drug that eases pain and suffering any better than existing drugs.

2) The growing, sales and/or distribution of marijuana remains a crime in
this state even if I-692 passes -- a huge discrepancy which I have seen no
one address! After a doctor prescribes marijuana to a terminally ill
person, where do they go to get it? They will go purchase it from the local
neighborhood drug dealer, or do I call them pharmacists now? That's if the
drug dealer can read the prescription.

3) Marijuana abuse, for that matter all drug abuse, is a problem here and
now! It has already significantly increased our crime rates.

4) Relying on the state Legislature to act if drug abuse or crime increases
(due to passage of this initiative) is ridiculous.

I am extremely suspicious of the proponents of this initiative for the
simple reason that they refer to opponents as, in Dr. Robertson's words,
"militaristic purists seemingly dedicated to banishing any and all drugs of
abuse from the face of the earth". You are wrong, Dr. Robertson, I am
dedicated (along with many others in criminal justice, human services and
the medical profession) to banishing drug abuse, not beneficial drugs!
Prove to me, as a voter, sheriff and compassionate human being, that
marijuana is a proven beneficial drug. This will be the first drug to
completely side-step strict FDA testing standards set up to protect
patients from harmful drugs.

I have a question. How many people in this state are in need of marijuana
to relieve pain and suffering? Does anyone know? Or is this an attempt to
tug at our heart-strings?

Why are supporters (the same sponsors who tried to legalize heroin in I-685
last year) in such a hurry to ram this down our throats? This initiative is
the precursor to legalizing marijuana. Even The Herald (editorial, Oct. 12)
agrees that "legalization would be a horrible idea."

RICK BART
Sheriff, Snohomish County