DRUG ABUSE: PROGRESSIVE ON POT

When it comes to marijuana, San Francisco city government's motto is: Just
say grow.

State law already permits the seriously ill to have pot for "medicinal"
purposes, such as alleviation of pain. Politicians want to go a step
further -- not just permitting but also providing.

Under the plan voters are being asked to endorse on the November ballot,
city workers would grow pot on vacant public property and distribute it to
anyone with a doctor's permission. Not only would that ensure a bountiful
supply of marijuana, they say, the "farms" could be used for agricultural
job-training purposes.

Marijuana is still illegal under federal law, however, so Golden Gate
taxpayers presumably would have to pay some hefty legal bills to defend
city workers and trainees arrested on drug charges.

Will known drug dealers be eligible for job training? Will workers be
searched when they leave the job site? How much money will be spent on
fences and guards to keep addicts from stealing the crops?

We're awaiting the pot-vending machines in San Francisco schools.