Pubdate: Thu, 07 Jul 2016
Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Press Democrat
Contact:  http://www.pressdemocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/348
Author: Mat Keller

MARIJUANA LAWS

EDITOR: At 81, I have seen a lot of laws that worked pretty well and 
some that did not. We have tried for years to stop pot use, for both 
good and stupid reasons, and it is not working. I will vote yes on 
the initiative.

One of the reasons present laws aren't working is that there is 
financial motivation to grow pot illegally in ways that aren't in the 
public interest. A cartel that can grow on national forest land or 
secretly on a private ranch, and can do so profitably, continues to 
do so. We see the same thing with abalone poaching, where people who 
make enough profit to cover the fines when caught continue poaching.

If this initiative passes, it will specify what the voting public 
says it will allow and what it will not. Those who have a business 
model of violating the new laws must be caught and the penalties so 
devastating that it will not be economical to do flout the law. Up 
the ante to whatever it takes. Perhaps the fine money could be split 
between enforcement costs and medical marijuana research.

MAT KELLER

Occidental
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom