YES SHOULD MEAN YES IN EAGLE

Bravo to Markus Mueller, who nailed it in his recent letter regarding
the upcoming medical marijuana vote in Eagle Tuesday. Like Markus, I
don't smoke marijuana and for the record, I rarely drink alcohol.

Dan Hartman, Director of the Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division
of the Colorado Department of Revenue recently wrote an article in
the Steamboat Pilot. He stated the medical marijuana dispensary
industry has some of the most stringent rules out there and he was
emphatic about the fact that banning dispensaries does not remove mmj
from your community! But it does, however, remove the Medical
Marijuana Enforcement Division's ability to ensure that sales are
registered, monitored, are safe, secure and taxed.

I attended the marijuana panel Dec. 12, and I also heard Undersheriff
Mr. McWilliams say that "if marijuana is grown in grow facilities, it
is safer for residential neighborhoods because there are no illegal
and unsafe rigging setups in houses."

One thing the newspaper and Mr. Mueller failed to mention is that
McWilliams also stated that they "conduct random, periodic checks on
all dispensaries in the county, and to date, none of them have been
in any violation."

The requirements for a medical marijuana business are indeed very
stringent and this particular business, Sweet Leaf, was given a
license to operate in Eagle by our town government, has done
absolutely nothing wrong and is legitimately helping patients.

That is the very reason why they should be allowed to stay in business.

Two of our town trustees (Scot Webster and Kraige Kinney) are
vigilantly spearheading the "no" campaign despite the original
business license being granted and the people voting "yes." What does
this say about some of our current leaders? Why aren't they listening
to their constituency -- once again?

The people of Colorado voted in favor of medical marijuana back in
2000, and there was an overwhelming margin in Eagle County in favor of it.

However, like on several other contentious local issues, some of our
elected politicians (and even local news reporters) have their own
personal agendas and are clearly not listening to the will of the
majority of the voting public.

I also take great exception to the fact that the "yes" signs (that
say "No to pot shops -- it doesn't make Eagle better for families")
were placed on elementary school property. Is this setting a good
example for young children? Most kids that age don't even know what "pot" is!

This dispensary is there for legal card-holding, doctor-prescribed
patients who have issues such as chronic pain, glaucoma, sleep apnea,
cancer, amongst other medical ailments that marijuana is helping them with.

To me, alcohol (which can be obtained by any legal-aged person to
dispense to any under-aged kid) and pain prescription meds like
oxycotin, codeine, valium, ambien, etc., are just as bad to have in
the hands of children, yet they are readily available in any parent's home.

Pharmaceutical drugs are big business even though many of these drugs
can have life-threatening side effects (just listen to any drug ad on
TV) and they can be very addictive.

We have an abundance of liquor stores in Eagle, even though it's a
well-known fact that alcohol abuse causes accidents, vehicular
deaths, domestic violence, serious health problems, etc.

Prohibition didn't work so well. That's why alcohol is legal.

I totally agree with the people on both sides of this issue
(including the owners of Sweet Leaf) who believe that our community
should work together to keep our kids away from marijuana, alcohol,
prescription medicine and other harmful drugs.

Yet unfortunately, regardless of this vote, alcohol and drug
consumption will continue as kids can get their hands on any number
of these substances with just one phone call or text, regardless of
whether there is a dispensary in town or not.

Bottom line: The vote on Tuesday is about a business's right to
continue operating in Eagle, since they were allowed to open in the
first place. Sweet Leaf is a tax- and job-producing business that
follows the rules and abides by the law.

Whether you use it or believe in the proven benefits of medical
marijuana is not the issue at hand. The owners are asking the voters
to vote against the ban of their dispensary and keep sales tax in the
town. That means a "yes" vote to allow them to continue to operate.

I urge all Eagle voters to vote "yes" on Jan. 3. Your "yes" vote
saves a law-abiding local business and stands up for our rights as
voting citizens. Thank you!

Jan Rosenthal Townsend is an Eagle resident. Yes should mean yes in Eagle

Jan Rosenthal Townsend Vail, CO, Colorado

Share on Facebook Email Print Recommend (1) Bravo to Markus Mueller,
who nailed it in his recent letter regarding the upcoming medical
marijuana vote in Eagle Tuesday. Like Markus, I don't smoke marijuana
and for the record, I rarely drink alcohol.

Dan Hartman, Director of the Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division
of the Colorado Department of Revenue recently wrote an article in
the Steamboat Pilot. He stated the medical marijuana dispensary
industry has some of the most stringent rules out there and he was
emphatic about the fact that banning dispensaries does not remove mmj
from your community! But it does, however, remove the Medical
Marijuana Enforcement Division's ability to ensure that sales are
registered, monitored, are safe, secure and taxed.

I attended the marijuana panel Dec. 12, and I also heard Undersheriff
Mr. McWilliams say that "if marijuana is grown in grow facilities, it
is safer for residential neighborhoods because there are no illegal
and unsafe rigging setups in houses."

One thing the newspaper and Mr. Mueller failed to mention is that
McWilliams also stated that they "conduct random, periodic checks on
all dispensaries in the county, and to date, none of them have been
in any violation."

The requirements for a medical marijuana business are indeed very
stringent and this particular business, Sweet Leaf, was given a
license to operate in Eagle by our town government, has done
absolutely nothing wrong and is legitimately helping patients.

That is the very reason why they should be allowed to stay in business.

Two of our town trustees (Scot Webster and Kraige Kinney) are
vigilantly spearheading the "no" campaign despite the original
business license being granted and the people voting "yes." What does
this say about some of our current leaders? Why aren't they listening
to their constituency -- once again?

The people of Colorado voted in favor of medical marijuana back in
2000, and there was an overwhelming margin in Eagle County in favor of it.

However, like on several other contentious local issues, some of our
elected politicians (and even local news reporters) have their own
personal agendas and are clearly not listening to the will of the
majority of the voting public.

I also take great exception to the fact that the "yes" signs (that
say "No to pot shops -- it doesn't make Eagle better for families")
were placed on elementary school property. Is this setting a good
example for young children? Most kids that age don't even know what "pot" is!

This dispensary is there for legal card-holding, doctor-prescribed
patients who have issues such as chronic pain, glaucoma, sleep apnea,
cancer, amongst other medical ailments that marijuana is helping them with.

To me, alcohol (which can be obtained by any legal-aged person to
dispense to any under-aged kid) and pain prescription meds like
oxycotin, codeine, valium, ambien, etc., are just as bad to have in
the hands of children, yet they are readily available in any parent's home.

Pharmaceutical drugs are big business even though many of these drugs
can have life-threatening side effects (just listen to any drug ad on
TV) and they can be very addictive.

We have an abundance of liquor stores in Eagle, even though it's a
well-known fact that alcohol abuse causes accidents, vehicular
deaths, domestic violence, serious health problems, etc.

Prohibition didn't work so well. That's why alcohol is legal.

I totally agree with the people on both sides of this issue
(including the owners of Sweet Leaf) who believe that our community
should work together to keep our kids away from marijuana, alcohol,
prescription medicine and other harmful drugs.

Yet unfortunately, regardless of this vote, alcohol and drug
consumption will continue as kids can get their hands on any number
of these substances with just one phone call or text, regardless of
whether there is a dispensary in town or not.

Bottom line: The vote on Tuesday is about a business's right to
continue operating in Eagle, since they were allowed to open in the
first place. Sweet Leaf is a tax- and job-producing business that
follows the rules and abides by the law.

Whether you use it or believe in the proven benefits of medical
marijuana is not the issue at hand. The owners are asking the voters
to vote against the ban of their dispensary and keep sales tax in the
town. That means a "yes" vote to allow them to continue to operate.

I urge all Eagle voters to vote "yes" on Jan. 3. Your "yes" vote
saves a law-abiding local business and stands up for our rights as
voting citizens. Thank you!