Pubdate: Sat, 27 Mar 2010 Source: Napa Valley Register (CA) Copyright: 2010 Lee Enterprises Contact: http://www.napavalleyregister.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/736 Author: Jim Hilsabeck THE BENEFITS OF POT CLUBS Dear editor, Regarding the article on the front page of the Register, March 18: "Medical pot advocates attack city proposal" let me assuage the mayor's concern that Napa might become the focus of Bay Area residents seeking medical marijuana. Here's a partial listing of nearby dispensaries: San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Richmond, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Contra Costa, Hayward and Modesto. Why would you go out of your way to come here unless it was for the wine? Marijuana is not a lethal drug; it is a mild euphoriant. Be concerned about what's in medicine cabinets; that's where the abuse begins. Oxycodone, also known as hillbilly heroine, Vicodin, diet pills -- these are easily accessible and will kill you. Do liquor stores have special zoning? Liquor kills thousands of people every year. What about drug stores? Nobody has ever died from smoking too much pot. People have died because of cannabis, but they were killed by drug cartels or the Drug Enforcement Administration. How does the planning commission decide who gets this dispensary license? If it's anything less than a lottery, we will all wonder who paid whom to receive this little moneymaker. If you want to keep people from St. Helena or Calistoga from visiting the dispensary, talk to their city council members. Don't forget, these tax dollars add up. Napans could benefit. Jim Hilsabeck Napa - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D