LETTER OF THE WEEK

Pubdate: Wed, 23 Sep 2009

Source: Union, The (Grass Valley, CA)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n000/a180.html

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n000/a181.html

VALUABLE CASH UP IN SMOKE

By Alex Wassermann

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