Pubdate: Thu, 28 Mar 2013
Source: Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA)
Copyright: 2013 Appeal-Democrat
Website: http://www.appeal-democrat.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1343
Author: Salena Dillree

TIGHTER RULES NEEDED FOR MEDICAL POT

There need to be stricter regulations on medical marijuana.

In 2012, the Yuba City Council passed an urgency ordinance banning
residents form growing medical marijuana outdoors. Even though this
reduces the smell and crime by a small amount, it still affects local
neighborhoods.

You can clearly tell who is growing by the tall over-sized blacked-out
greenhouses. California voters in 1996 passed Proposition 215, which
allows patients with a valid doctors recommendation to process and
cultivate for personal use.

At the federal level, marijuana is illegal and the distribution of it
is a federal offense. In October 2009, the Obama administration
advised federal prosecutors to not prosecute people who distribute
marijuana for medical purposes.

Studies show that medical marijuana helps relieve some of the pain and
symptoms of cancer, glaucoma and many others.

Personally, I think that the use of marijuana for medical purposes is
a good thing and that it does help. But on the other hand, it is
something that is being abused and should be addressed. When you look
around some neighborhoods during harvest time, you can tell who grows.

A majority of these people are younger and probably do not have any
serious problems that they would need medical marijuana. A few months,
later they have brand new Camaros and ATVs in their driveway. There
should be medical background checks before they are allow to receive
the plants.

They should check for the authenticity of the medicinal marijuana card
to ensure that they are going to people who actually need them.
Medical marijuana should be available for people who need it. Not for
people who can profit from it.

Salena Dillree

Yuba City
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MAP posted-by: Matt