READERS TAKE STAND ON RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA

We asked readers to comment, pro or con, on whether recreational
marijuana should be legalized and taxed. Of 124 replies, less than 2
percent were against legalization; the rest were strongly in favor.
Here is a selection of replies:

PRO

I am in favor of legalizing cannabis for adult use. Here are my
reasons.

1. It is a victimless crime. No one gets hurt using it, no one gets
killed. I have yet to read a single piece of scientific evidence that
suggests any negative side effects that are any worse than many
over-the-counter medicines, and certainly far fewer negative side
effects than alcohol. I don't believe it is the responsibility of our
government to tell us what we can or cannot do in our homes where a
victim is not clearly identified and defined.

2. There are plenty of data that show benefits from using cannabis,
but I have had personal experience with an eye injury that would have
required that a laser burn the surface of my cornea off to allow it to
re-grow. Cannabis saved me from that by reducing the pressure of my
ocular fluid and thus reducing surface tension on my eye long enough
for it to heal naturally. I could be blind if not for cannabis. There
are many other personal and public accounts where cannabis has been
hugely beneficial.

3. The tax money is there. Everyone would pay it gladly to be able to
live a life in the sun rather than in secret. Once we're not in fear
of arrest, supply and demand will Advertisement take hold, costs will
drop but the tax (which is being based on a per-ounce and not a
percentage of the price) will not. The consumer is happy because they
are getting lower prices and less risk. The growers are happy because
they aren't getting raided anymore. Everyone wins.

Brandon Bryant

Long Beach

To say that I favor legalizing and taxing marijuana is an
understatement. As a big believer in individual freedom, I find it
repugnant that in the United States we have a government that attempts
to dictate to Americans what we may not put in our bodies. Only the
most uninformed among us thinks marijuana is a particularly dangerous
substance, and the fact is that cannabis is the country's No. 1 cash
crop. So the entire question can be reduced to simple priorities.
Legalize marijuana and use the tax revenue generated - which growers
and sellers will pay willingly - for underfunded areas like police and
schools.

Greggory Moore

Long Beach

Yes, legalize pot. Have the state run pot stores and use the tax and
profits solely for drug rehab centers. This eliminates the drug
dealers and would cut prison costs. The drug war was lost decades ago.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different
results.

John Pedigo

Bellflower

CON

My vote for Prop. 19 is no!

No one gets taxed on growing tomatoes in their own backyard - what
makes you think they will get taxed growing cannabis in their back
40?

The real issue is not funding the coffers for our state lawmakers to
spend more money. The real issue here is how do we know what is the
legal limit under the influence while driving a 2,600-pound-plus
weapon? What field test is out there?

THC can stay in your system for over 30 days. Will our field test come
down to training our law enforcers with videos of Cheech Marin and
Tommy Chong?

Fact: Cannabis slows down your reaction time

Fact: Cannabis increases your appetite - bad news for the obese among us.

So if this law passes look out for the vehicles on the road swerving
into your lane at slow speeds with smoke pouring out the windows.

Some will argue that this condition already happens on the road. I
agree, but when you take the taboo out of it your law-abiding citizen
will go down to the corner store for a pack of Acapulco Gold just as
they buy their Bud.

I voted in favor of Prop. 215. But anyone can get a prescription, so
what's going to happen now - are they going to tax our prescribed
drugs? You cannot tax one prescription and not the other.

The personal issue here is that they will set the legal usage age to
21 years of age. Just like alcohol it trickles down to minors, but the
substance will be even cheaper.

So when you send your kid off to college paying out your hard-earned
money to brighten their future it will be great to know that your kid
can smoke all the pot they want without any legal repercussions.

Dennis Bastian

Long Beach

I used to be in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
But I am no longer, though reluctantly.

After reading up on the issue, after a conversation with a DEA agent,
after understanding that young teens as early as 14 years old deal the
stuff around middle and high schools right under the nose of the
teachers and staff, I changed my mind on the recreational aspect.

Hans Blom

Long Beach

Watch for next week's pro and con question, Wednesday on the Editorial
page.