Pubdate: Mon, 04 Jul 2005 Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Page: B - 4 Copyright: 2005 Hearst Communications Inc. Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388 Author: David Lawlor Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n000/a203.html POT-CLUB POLITICKING Editor -- San Francisco Supervisor Sean Elsbernd's proposal to limit the number of medical cannabis dispensaries in San Francisco to eight is built upon faulty logic ("Political fight looms over pot clubs," June 30). California citizens voted to allow medical cannabis to be available to sick people, who doctors determined could be helped by its use. The current number of cannabis dispensaries hovers around 40, and Elsbernd and others of his ilk claim that number is too high. Such a statement seems more than arbitrary, considering the glaring dearth of complaints from San Francisco residents concerning dispensaries that are often described as "great neighbors" by nearby businesses. Employing Elsbernd's logic, one could argue there are too many pharmacies in the city (I see a Walgreens almost every three blocks) and therefore their number must also be limited. Why is Elsbernd concerned with what is essentially a nonissue when one looks at the many other problems facing San Francisco? The answer, sadly enough, is that his concern is fostered by a deeply held fallacy that cannabis is a dangerous drug requiring more stringent oversight than morphine, valium and other commonly abused prescription drugs. We hope other supervisors will see the absurdity of Elsbernd's proposal and will not limit the number of dispensaries in the city. David Lawlor San Francisco - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake