COMMISSIONERS: MEDICAL POT HAS NO PLACE IN COUNTY

The Logan County Commissioners are planning to consider a resolution
to ban all medical marijuana dispensaries and grow operations at an
upcoming meeting. The resolution, if approved, would take effect
immediately.

"We don't feel medical marijuana belongs in Logan County," said
Commission Chairman Debbie Zwirn. "I don't believe the stories about
so many old people that are on it due to illness; even if it were all
true, as I said, there are always a few bad apples that spoil the
bushel. No one can tell me that none of it is used as
recreational."

Zwirn noted the fact that the voters in Logan County turned down
medical marijuana when it was on the ballot before and, in her
opinion, if they were to vote again today, they would vote the same
way.

"This is not the first we have heard about medical marijuana," she
said. "We have studied it, heard the pros and cons and that has not
made a difference. It just does not belong in Logan County."

"We don't just follow the city, but I do agree that if we don't ban
it as did the city, they can set up shop right outside the city
limits," she said.

Commissioner Jack McLavey said that he also questions some of the
statements being made about use by the elderly and the long distances
they drive.

"I agree with the city position and if we don't ban it, shops will be
set up just outside the city limits and that would circumvent
anything they (the city) would accomplish," he said. "The voters
didn't approve it in 2000, and I suspect they still feel the same
way."

He noted the results of the 2001 initiative that passed and seeing
what has happened since then.

"There is no way a doctor can approve 300 scripts in a day and still
see and know his patients," he said. "Just the fact that there were
1,700 scripts written in 2005 and that has gone to 100,000 in 2009.
There is too much risk for unscrupulous types coming in and getting
it to our young people."

Commissioner Jim Edwards is concerned with the abuse of the program
and has not seen any real correction in how it operates.

"The voters overwhelmingly defeated it earlier and my constituents
for the most part are of the same mindset," he said. "The problems
are just going to get worse and worse. With the problems we have with
alcohol and illegal drugs, this would just pour more fuel on the
fire."

"I have seen people in great pain and I wouldn't want to deny anyone
relief for that pain," he said. "But they need to clean it up
(medical marijuana) and treat it like a real (pharmaceutical) drug so
people can take it in a pill form."

Considerations for the commissioners would be to extend the
moratorium that is in effect; send the question to the ballot for a
vote; or pass the resolution to ban it completely.