Pubdate: Mon, 25 Oct 2004 Source: Herald and News (Klamath Falls, OR) Copyright: 2004 Herald and News Contact: http://www.heraldandnews.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2600 Author: Tim Everinger Cited: Measure 33 www.Yeson33.org Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Measure+33 POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS I join other Oregon law enforcement officers opposing ballot Measure 33. I strongly feel that it is potentially dangerous to the majority of the citizens of our county, our communities and our state. Measure 33 proponents are targeting your neighborhood, and they want to make marijuana operations legal. They are trying to fool you into voting to expand the so-called "medicinal" marijuana law. The Oregon Medical Association opposes Measure 33, calling it a "thinly-disguised effort to legalize the use of marijuana without any medically scientific justification." What the proponents really want is for unregulated pot markets to blossom in your neighborhoods, making it easier for pot users to support their habit to the detriment of your health and safety. Measure 33 would allow the establishment of unregulated pot "dispensaries." These marijuana operations would function much like the clandestine meth labs that already blight too many Oregon neighborhoods. Increased day and night traffic in neighborhoods by those seeking the drug is reminiscent of the crack house syndrome that plagues communities. Incredibly, those promoting Measure 33 also want to make it legal for an individual to possess up to 6 pounds of pot. That's enough for an individual to smoke a marijuana joint every 60 minutes for a year. It's a license for a perpetual high - and they want to make it legal. This measure, at times, would require the state of Oregon to provide free marijuana for indigent people who could not afford to buy the drug, at taxpayers' expense. Measure 33 proponents also want to get medical doctors out of the loop by allowing nurse practitioners and naturopaths to be able to give out marijuana prescriptions. If this measure passes, marijuana growers will flock to Oregon to cultivate their own marijuana crops. Don't allow Oregon to become a marijuana haven. Measure 33 is foolish. It even allows children under the age of 18 to use marijuana. Don't be fooled by this fraudulent measure, which is opposed by every responsible law enforcement person in Oregon. Ask yourself: Why has the Federal Drug Administration never approved "medication" that has to be smoked? Measure 33 would allow easy access to marijuana, lowering the quality of life in people's neighborhoods, negatively impacting business and absurdly allowing children to use marijuana. Unbelievably, this measure requires the state to guarantee the availability of free marijuana at taxpayer expense. I urge people to vote no on Measure 33. Tim Evinger Sheriff Klamath County - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake