MARIJUANA: OK IT, THEN HEAVY LEVY IT

Atascadero City Council recently passed a moratorium on medical
marijuana facilities within the city. Using the excuse of this being
an "emergency," council members unanimously adopted the moratorium,
which will be in place for 45 days.

In a month and a half they'll have to come back to kick the idea
around all over again. They could extend the moratorium for almost a
year if they so desire.

I think the city should allow the medicinal dispensaries. In its
previous ordinance, they were allowed in some limited areas within
the community and with certain conditions imposed by the council and
Planning Commission.

Let's hope there is more discussion the next time the issue comes up.

I know most of the cities in the county don't want medical-marijuana
dispensaries in their backyards, but it seems to me civic leaders
everywhere are taking a knee-jerk reaction to those clinics, which
are allowed under California law but not by the federal government.

I've never used marijuana, so I don't have any firsthand information
about its impact on the human condition. I don't think I've ever seen
anyone under the influence of marijuana except in movies.

But I come from a long line of alcoholics and falling-down drunks,
which is why I've never taken a drink for fear I may be an addict myself.

I wonder what those in my family would have been like if they just
smoked pot. It just strikes me as sort of silly that people go crazy
over the presence of marijuana and then applaud the newest opening of
a wine-tasting room or a new liquor store.

The only difference I can see is that one is legal and the other is
not. The effects of using both appear to be the same.

What California should do is take the lead and legalize marijuana and
then tax the heck out of it, just like it does with cigarettes, beer,
wine and hard liquor.

The state could certainly use the added revenue. And it would free
the law enforcement community from being so wrapped up in busting
those who use the substance.

Abuses of marijuana, just like alcohol and other drugs, both legal
and illegal, would still be punishable, as they should be.

If the City Council is willing to ban marijuana for medical use
because of its fear of the potential dangers of doing so, then it
should take the next logical step and ban alcohol consumption and sales, too.

Oh, that's right; we already tried that, didn't we?