MARIJUANA STORE SHOULD BE CLOSED

Regarding, "Medical marijuana store may shut down" (Local, July
8):

Kudos to the city of San Marcos for its decision to shut down the
marijuana dispensary run by Legal Ease Inc. of San Diego.

The San Marcos dispensary has been burglarized on numerous occasions
and poses public health and public safety issues to people in the vicinity.

As a parent, I have grave concerns about a marijuana dispensary
operating across the street from an elementary school.

Far too many youths view marijuana as a harmless drug. According to
the California Healthy Kids Survey 2005, more teens, grades nine and
11, use marijuana than tobacco in San Diego County. Further,
purchasing marijuana in a retail setting portrays a sense of normalcy
and harmlessness in regards to the use of the drug.

The dispensaries are intended for those with serious illnesses such as
cancer and AIDS. But, according to a recent Union-Tribune article,
dispensary records seized in December 2005 show that barely 2 percent
of patients reported having cancer, AIDS or glaucoma. Instead, roughly
98 percent used marijuana to relieve back and neck pain, headaches,
insomnia, muscle spasms, and various less severe disorders. Wouldn't
prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications relieve these symptoms?

Based on this information, closing down the San Marcos marijuana
dispensary certainly makes sense to me.

Gena Knutson

Prevention Specialist

North Coastal Prevention Coalition