Pubdate: Sun, 7 Oct 2007
Source: Huntington Beach Independent (CA)
Contact:  2007 Huntington Beach Independent
Website: http://www.hbindependent.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4577
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Proposition+215
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

MEDICAL POT IS A STATES' RIGHTS ISSUE

Drug and alcohol recovery programs state the definition of insanity 
as continuing to do the same thing over and over and expecting 
different results.

That's ironic, because the definition could be applied to the way in 
which the war on drugs is being fought.

In what appears to be yet another chapter in the war on drugs, 
Huntington Beach planning commissioners have recommended to City 
Council members that they prohibit any medical marijuana dispensaries 
from opening in the city.

Police Chief Ken Small made an impassioned appeal to the commission 
to make the recommendation because, he argued, the dispensaries would 
become "magnets for crime," attracting more pot heads than the sick 
people for which the facilities are intended.

Commissioners also considered the fact that the federal government 
has been cracking down on landlords who lease space for dispensaries.

It's important to note the U.S. Supreme Court has taken a dim view of 
medical marijuana laws such as Proposition 215, making it likely that 
states' rights will eventually be superseded completely by federal law.

So it would seem prudent to take action on this issue before it 
becomes a problem. But we fail to see that there is a problem, 
because there are no medical marijuana dispensaries in Huntington 
Beach. And there doesn't appear to be any organized effort by 
residents to keep them out of town.

In fact, even the conservative Orange County Board of Supervisors 
this summer approved a measure to license marijuana use for medical 
reasons. If county supervisors don't appear concerned about abuse of 
the system, then why worry about it here?

In fact, don't city officials have many more urgent issues to 
discuss, such as graffiti vandalism, or redevelopment of blighted 
shopping centers?

Let's not repeat the insanity and pick a fight against Proposition 
215. The federal government may want to carry on the battle and may 
yet win, but California voters approved medical marijuana and Orange 
County supervisors are on board with it.

So why isn't Huntington Beach? 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake