Pubdate: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 Source: Palm Beach Post, The (FL) Copyright: 2014 The Palm Beach Post Contact: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/333 Author: Kay Cunningham Page: A16 RABBI'S POT REMARK SILLY AND DANGEROUS I read the front-page article ("Parents speak out at medical pot seminar," July 12) and the coverage of the Florida Cannabis Coalition in Boca Raton about the business of "medical" marijuana, where attendees paid $99 to hear industry leaders. What struck me most were the last two paragraphs: "Orthodox Rabbi Aaron of Miami said he attended because he is interested in marijuana both for its medical use and as a potential personal investment. As for its bad reputation, man makes booze, God makes cannabis. Who do you trust?" I have never heard such nonsense in my life, especially from a socalled Orthodox rabbi. First of all, booze comes from grains, grapes, potatoes, etc., God-given natural resources which man's intellect used to create usable for human consumption. Otherwise, they would simply be weeds of use to no one. Cannabis also was just a weed until man discovered something to do with it. You don't just stuff a wild cannabis weed up your nose or whatever for a high until it's processed by man in some way. To me, profit is uppermost in the rabbi's mind. I suggest he read the Old Testament again. Also, just look at the police blotters and the crimes committed by marijuana users, not to mention those who graduated to cocaine, heroin, etc. I'll be voting "no" in November. Kay Cunningham Highland Beach - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom