EDITORS SHOULD OPEN MINDS ON POT ISSUE

If The Advertiser's editors had the openness of mind to actually try
cannabis as treatment for their likely deadline stress - instead of
taking the standard anti-anxiety meds and hitting the bottle come pau
hana time - the black-and-white opinion of the Legislature's so-called
potshop bill, SB 2213,might have been a little more informed and
nuanced ("Marijuana shops? Wowie, what a bad idea," March 10).

Yes,the Los Angeles County Council is seeking to more closely regulate
the number and location of their 1,000 cannabis dispensaries. That's
why SB 2213 only allows the counties the ability to establish
compassion centers - if they want to and as they each see fit.

And yes, it is about the tax revenue - $200 million a year in
California. It's high time Hawai'i's No. 1 grossing agricultural crop
become legitimized commerce.

Come on Advertiser, don't let the old "it's illegal" stigma keep you
from lending some pro-business support on the pot issue.

Shawn James Leavey

Honokaa, Big Island