Pubdate: Sun, 17 Sep 2006
Source: North County Times (Escondido, CA)
Copyright: 2006 North County Times
Contact:  http://www.nctimes.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1080
Author: Joe Carter
Note: Gives LTE priority to North San Diego County and Southwest 
Riverside County residents

MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES NOT GOOD FOR CITIES

Regarding the Sept. 8 article, "Pot dispensaries good for cities, 
too, group says." I would like to add some missing information. There 
are a few California cities that have regulated dispensaries. 
However, there are over 50 cities that have banned them outright, and 
at least another 20 that have moratoriums in place until they can 
write their ordinances. This is because dispensaries are illegal and 
a magnet for crime.

The state laws regarding marijuana indicated that there should exist 
a caregiver, the euphemistic marijuana grower, for every patient, not 
a retail storefront where all the business is done in cash, lots of 
cash, just ripe for the many armed robberies we have seen. I thought 
it was ironic that one of the patients quoted couldn't grow it on her 
own because it wasn't safe. Was that because she knew that this cash 
crop made her a target for burglary?

Where are all the caregivers over the last 10 years since Proposition 
215 and before dispensaries came to San Diego this year that assured 
the public that they would carefully take care of their patients? 
Perhaps these caregivers decided there was a whole lot more money in 
going retail. I for one am grateful that San Diego County sees this 
hoax for what it is.

Joe Carter

San Marcos
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine