BUZZ KILL

The controversial Prop. 215--the "medical-marijuana" initiative--has raised
its ugly head again in the news recently.

Passage of Prop. 215 was a dreadful and tragic mistake that will be long
regretted. It was nothing more than a scam perpetrated on a well-meaning
but gullible electorate. It was a way for drug users getting their feet in
the door to facilitate the eventual legalization of all drugs.

The reference to "medical marijuana" is intended to imply that it is a
medication essential in alleviating all the discomforts and pains
associated with nausea, post-traumatic stress, post-menstrual periods, back
pains, glaucoma--you name it.

The truth is there are all kinds of over-the-counter and prescription drugs
that will very nicely take care of these maladies.

Marijuana is marijuana, no matter how you slice it, and it's usually the
first rung of the ladder to addiction of harder drugs. Unfortunately and
tragically, because of politicians' disinterest and law enforcement's
inability in stemming the drug traffic, thousands upon thousands of young
lives are being destroyed. What is needed is a penalty so severe that no
one would even dare think of dealing in drugs.

As a local columnist so aptly put it, "I interviewed several members of the
county medical-marijuana movement, all of whom fit the rather unpleasant
stereotypical image of your average dope-smoking burnout. .. None of them
had jobs, and all subsisted on unemployment, welfare and disability checks. .."

Joe Canzoneri, Magalia