Pubdate: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 Source: Contra Costa Times (CA) Copyright: 2004 Knight Ridder Contact: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/96 Cited: Yes on Z ( www.yesonz.org ) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/marijuana+initiative Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) MAN ON THE STREET The Montclarion asked hills residents if they plan to vote for or against Measure Z, which asks the Oakland police to make enforcement of marijuana laws a low priority. Those interviewed had a variety of views on the issue. Sean Collins, 38, Millsmont resident and plumber "No. (Marijuana's) a mind-altering substance, and there's no way you can regulate it. Unlike drinking, pot is only about getting high." Kurt Helmgren, 59, Montclair resident and carpenter "I'd support it. The way it's being used now, quasi-legally, is not harming anybody." Sulaimaan Hamed, 24, Grand-Lake resident and student "No. I am anti-anything that alters your natural state. However, for medicinal purposes, yes." Reenie Raschke, 42, Montclair resident and photographer "I'll vote 'yes,' because we have bigger fish to fry. And we know marijuana is less of an addictive drug than many drugs that are legal." Angelique Heddings, 38, Montclair resident and cosmotologist "Make it legal, make it safe and make it non-illicit. I don't think the government should have anything to do with it." Michelle Myers, 21, Grand Lake resident and educator "No. It will transcend into marijuana abuse and give an excuse to too many young adults to abuse it." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake