MEDICAL MARIJUANA A JOKE

During the past two years we have been presented with dozens of news
stories extolling the virtues of medical marijuana and pot
dispensaries. The people interviewed and quoted in these stories have
offered a tremendous amount of misinformation and given a myriad of
opinions, none backed by scientific evidence. Let me also be clear:
The Summit Daily News has done its best to present these news items in
an unbiased fashion - they simply covered events and interviewed
people that presented the material. They are not at fault. Now we have
these most recent comments, coming from Gary Lindstrom. Although Mr.
Lindstrom's comments were focused on the de-criminalization of
marijuana, the issue here is really one of making marijuana available
to recreational drug users and allowing pot businesses to flourish in
our communities.

Let me briefly present the following. First, all council members of
the various towns in the county take note: Anyone who is not aware of
the problems in California with medical marijuana is not reading the
paper. The California experience has clearly shown that medical
marijuana is a joke. In fact there are now thousands of "pot" shops
selling marijuana to hundreds of thousands of people. Recent reports
have shown that some 8 percent of the buyers are under the age of 30
and perfectly healthy. Secondly, what about all the children that are
exposed to second-hand marijuana smoke? We don't we care about that?
Are any of you aware that there are more carcinogens in marijuana than
tobacco cigarettes? Supporters of this movement need to stop fooling
themselves. If you don't believe me, just go to Google and type in
marijuana and carcinogens. You will shocked at the data and studies
out there.

Not addictive? Try listening to Dr. Drew Pinsky and Dr. Sanjy Gupta on
CNN and other channels. For some people the drug IS a gateway drug.
That isn't my opinion, it's a fact. Both doctors are against the use
of medical marijuana when smoked. How many of you have seen the CNBC
special on pot? If not, you should view it.

I am also tired of the comparisons between alcohol and pot. It is an
established fact that a glass of red wine each day can reduce heart
problems and remove plaque in arteries. But beyond that, a class of
wine or a glass of beer with dinner produces no intoxication at all.
In contrast, one cannot smoke pot without getting high. That is the
only reason to take it. If one seeks to relieve pain through the use
of marijuana, there are marijuana pills that can be taken. Those who
argue the pills do not work are uninformed. There are studies showing
that the pills work in the same way as inhaled marijuana, they simply
take a bit longer.

If you want to de-criminalize it, fine. But that isn't the issue.
Establishing pot dispensaries in Summit County or anywhere is simply a
ruse to promote recreational marijuana use.

Carol James

Snowmass Village