Pubdate: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 Source: Vail Daily (CO) Copyright: 2014 Jared Barnes Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wo3Ts7AI Website: http://www.vaildaily.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3233 Author: Jared Barnes ILLOGICAL ARGUMENT I would like to take a moment to respond to Barbara Allen's Letter to the Editor from Sunday. It is quite clear over the past 6 months, but most likely longer, that you are not a supporter of retail marijuana or allowing retail marijuana stores to locate along US Highway 6. You have written the Vail Daily almost weekly sometimes with valid arguments and other times you confuse anecdotal evidence with facts. What I have distilled from letters is your main argument: It is unsafe to sell retail marijuana on Highway 6 close to schools. Although I agree with the principle you are attempting to argue, your arguments leave much to be desired. Principle: Retail marijuana should not be sold withing close proximity to schools. Your argument assumes that an individual purchasing retail marijuana instantly consumes the marijuana onsite, becomes impaired and therefore it is unsafe to even allow retail sales. Now I haven't read Amendment 64 word for word, but I would bet that it does not including any language that permits patrons of a retail marijuana store to consume their recently purchased marijuana inside the retail establishment, outside said establishment, or inside their vehicle at a retail establishment. Therefore I can only deduce that there is ZERO correlation between allowing retail establishments along US Highway 6 and increased safety concerns from consumption. The argument you attempt to validate is no different than an individual purchasing alcohol from a retail establishment and then consuming said alcohol on the premises. It is illegal, period! Public consumption, driving under the influence, liquor licenses and open container laws all deter individuals from doing this. How would similarly regulated retail marijuana establishments be any different? This paper has published many articles since January 1 that stated the only legal place for an adult, over the age of 21, to consume marijuana is on private property which would allow it. To my knowledge no retail establishment permits the consumption of marijuana onsite. Instead what you should be arguing and petitioning your elected officials is to prohibit marijuana clubs or similar establishments that permit consumption onsite along Highway 6. In the future when making arguments about prohibiting retail marijuana establishments on Highway 6, please take a moment to ensure that the "evidence" you are presenting is properly tied to the argument you are making. Jared Barnes Avon - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D