Pubdate: Sat, 27 Oct 2012
Source: North County Times (Escondido, CA)
Copyright: 2012 North County Times
Contact: http://www.nctimes.com/app/forms/letters/index.php
Website: http://www.nctimes.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1080
Author: Aaron Byzak

POT SHOPS THREATEN PUBLIC SAFETY

In November, voters in Del Mar and Solana Beach face initiatives
seeking to locate marijuana dispensaries within their city limits,
despite numerous public-safety concerns.

Despite everything we know about the negative results of marijuana
smoking - a known carcinogen that attacks the respiratory system - we
still see a concerted effort to normalize its use.

Back in 1999, the California Healthy Kids Survey first uncovered a
troubling trend that young, otherwise healthy North County teens use
marijuana far more than cigarettes.

Health concerns aside, selling marijuana from storefronts - medical or
otherwise - continues to be illegal under federal law.

As a results, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy recently shut down several
dispensaries throughout San Diego County.

Pot shops bring a whole array of problems to a city that welcomes
them. Cities, like Del Mar and Solana Beach, would likely fare better
to stay out of the pot business altogether rather than trying to
rectify the problems after the fact.

Aaron Byzak President North Coastal Prevention Coalition
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