ARGUMENT AGAINST SHOPS WAS BIASED

The editorial "Marijuana shops? Wowie, what a bad idea" was just plain
biased and thinly argued.

Sure, SB 2213 could be better, but it does provide for regulating who
can be employed in a compassion center, how they obtain their product,
conditions for security of grown product and conditions on who may
purchase the cannabis.

This biggest drawback to the law is that it waits until 2012 to go
into effect. That is a mistake, because people will say the activity
is legal the day the law passes and will start setting up shop right
away.

The police might exploit the situation by saying they're confused
about what to do and hope the situation makes the citizens and
Legislature angry.

What the Legislature ought to do is make regulated cannabis legal for
all adults right away, period. By requiring background checks,
licensing, business licenses and taxation, there will be more than
enough safeguards to control any wayward operators.

Police don't want this, because they fear having to focus on violent
crime and property crime as their first priority. That is, to do real
police work.

Keith Brilhart

Honolulu