VALUABLE CASH UP IN SMOKE

Oh, please! I've read quite a few stories in The Union that have made
me cringe but nothing like the front page of the Sept. 10 edition:
"Pot operation uprooted" and "Council bans medi-pot shops in 3-2
vote." These made me livid.

Here we are as a country struggling through some of the most difficult
issues that we have ever had to face; coming at us all at the same
time. Education, poverty, health care, and our stupendous fiscal
debacle. And, we, as citizens have to tolerate such a waste of money
and effort that go into the control of marijuana.

In no way do I fault The Union for reporting on these stories. It's
the fact that they are stories which make me crazy. This is truly such
a non-issue. This "drug," just like alcohol, will be legal in less
than 10 years, folks. It's a huge money maker and the government needs
money; just like cigarettes and alcohol, tax it to high heaven.

And the fact that marijuana has proven to be a source of relief for
medical patients is a huge issue as well. Just like our health care
system, those without enough money do not have access to this relief
that is available in a few medical marijuana shops for a lot of money.

Let's add up all the dollars that it took to raid this plantation on
the Ridge: time, fuel, equipment; impending legal costs. Couldn't
those dollars be put to a much better use?

I think that the people who are against legalization of marijuana are
out there behind the barn smokin' themselves, because their heads are
in some kind of cloud.

Alex Wassermann

Nevada City