DEATH TO THE MEDICAL CANNABIS CLUB

In a more-perfect world, a patient with a serious condition treatable by
marijuana would obtain a prescription -- not a doctor's note or nod -- and
have it filled at Tuttle's or Longs.

As we await that evolutionary state we're stuck in a hazy intermediate
stage that fosters cannabis clubs such as the one on Sonoma Avenue, a
stone's throw from Santa Rosa City Hall, a park and a grammar school.

At these clubs, the needs of legitimate patients are overshadowed by the
inevitable comings and goings of fakers, rip-offs, dealers and recreational
pot-heads. Clearly the clubs are anachronisms simply filling a void until
prescribed cannabis can be gotten the same way as antibiotics, Vicodin,
Xanax or Zocor.

In the meantime, if you're running a club, do us all a favor and chase away
the riff-raff and concentrate on the ailing people who truly need your
product to get through the day.

And if you're a neighbor of a club who doesn't like what you see and smell
and you hope the city or county will act, be vigilant and keep good notes.