WE'RE NOT LIVING UP TO OUR IMAGE

How can it be that Temecula and Murrieta, cities that pride
themselves in forming the "Bible belt of Riverside County," allow
businesses to promote the use of marijuana and other illegal drugs?

I wrote a letter several weeks ago about how Temecula recently issued
a business license to IECannabisConsultants.com, a Temecula-based
company on Commerce Center Drive that sells marijuana for "medical
use." After checking around more thoroughly, I've since discovered
several drug paraphernalia supply stories in our communities,
including four along Jefferson Avenue between Overland Drive and
Murrieta Hot Springs Road. There are more "head shops" in this area
than there are McDonald's.

With rents running about $4,000 for every 2,000 square feet of
commercial space in these cities, these stores surely must be selling
a lot of fancy pipes, bongs, Zig-Zags, scales and horticultural lamps
to stay in business. Some of these shops call themselves "tobacco"
stores, yet their wares include all sorts of paraphernalia designed
to either promote or conceal the use of illegal drugs, including
miniature scales that are camouflaged to look like iPods. Thanks to
their pro-pot-smoking business policies, it won't be long before
people start mocking Temecula and Murrieta as "the cannabis belt of
Riverside County."

Tami Scarcella

Murrieta