DON'T LET STATE GO TO POT

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano wants the narcotics trade to thrive legally
in a thin effort to save California's economy with "green gold."

His AB 390 would legalize the growth, use and sale of pot for
recreation of people 21 and older with taxes payable to California.

Legalized medicinal marijuana provides great relief to those of us
suffering from pain, and grave and terminal illnesses. Used under the
supervision of a physician, cannabis comforts patients.

It's been thought that legalizing marijuana could ease the burden on
drug enforcement agencies and our justice system that would no longer
have to expend resources on busting the casual pot smoker.

You even know someone who enjoys the occasional joint and they're a
kind, considerate, functioning member of our great American society.
Certainly, they are not criminals.

However, you probably know a chronic user and notice their slowed
affects: motor skills and reaction times lag, emotions are dulled or
over-amplified. Fatal accidents have been linked to pot.

AB 390 prohibits individuals under 21 from using weed, but consider
that youth would think it's OK to smoke pot because it's legal for
their role models to. It would become a rite of passage into
adulthood, which so many youth rush into.

Essentially, California and Ammiano would be enabling more youths to
try marijuana because its civil taboo has been lifted.

Marijuana acts as a gateway drug for addictive personalities. Easing
the burden of law enforcement to act on marijuana charges wouldn't
yield relief to America's overall drug problem.

In fact, it would exacerbate the spiraling drug problem.

These are absolutely new times of change and progress, yet we still
strive to preserve our utopian dream, which includes community
responsibility, our own family values, and the safety of our children.

Tom Ammiano should understand that Californians aren't going to let
their kids' futures go up in smoke to raise a few bucks.

Jessica Derrick, Sausalito