Pubdate: Thu, 16 Jul 2015
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Michael Haworth
Page: A11
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n389/a06.html

MARIJUANA LAWS

Regarding "Pot foes fight industry with racketeering law" (Business, 
July 14): Anti-marijuana forces think they've discovered a new way to 
stop the spread of legal pot, using the federal government's listing 
marijuana as a Schedule l narcotic as the primary tool. As a Schedule 
1 narcotic, the feds conclude the drug has no redeeming social value. 
So far, one Colorado pot shop has closed due to the threat of a 
lawsuit by a Washington anti-crime group. This action has been called 
frivolous by Colorado Rep. Jonathan Singer, and it may well be.

But to ensure the safety of burgeoning marijuana businesses, the 
Sens. Cory Booker, Rand Paul and Kirsten Gillibrand sponsored bill, 
Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act of 
2015 (Carers Act) must be passed. It will re-classify marijuana as a 
Schedule ll narcotic, allowing research without the threat of federal 
intervention. It will ensure that state laws cannot be overruled by 
federal law. And, because marijuana has been shown to reduce symptoms 
of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it will allow Veterans 
Health Administration doctors to prescribe it to veterans. 
Ironically, the organization pushing for closure is called Safe 
Streets Alliance. Safe streets is the last thing we'll have if 
marijuana shops close.

Michael Haworth, Vallejo
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom