Pubdate: Sat, 10 Jan 2009
Source: Hi-Desert Star (Yucca Valley, CA)
Copyright: 2009 Hi Desert Star
Contact:  http://www.hidesertstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3921
Author: Dean Rodriquez, Inland Valley Drug Community Coalition, Redlands
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)

MARIJUANA LAW HAS LED TO TO FRAUD AND ADDICTION

The Yucca Valley Town Council needs to join the rest of the Inland 
Empire and ban places that dispense marijuana, whether that be a 
marijuana dispensary, a marijuana cooperative, collective or any 
other convenient title for a place of so-called "business" that 
provides a federally illegal drug to people. They all do the same 
thing -- endanger our youth and tarnish the reputation of a community.

Businesses that operate in cities and towns must abide by local, 
state and federal laws. Prop 215, passed over a decade ago, by a 
marginal 55 percent of the vote was supposed to provide marijuana to 
the most seriously ill. We were led to believe that those dying of 
diseases would find relief. Reality check: Fine print in Prop 215 
allows anyone to get marijuana for any reason "that brings relief to 
any medical symptom," whatsoever, as long as they can find a marijuana-doctor.

What has Prop 215 brought California: high school seniors obtaining 
marijuana ID cards as a "rite of passage;" investigative news 
reporting showing young healthy adults obtaining so-called medical 
marijuana for made-up symptoms like itchy skin, hair loss and feet 
pain from wearing high heels; more pot shops in Los Angeles than 
Starbucks; perfectly healthy adults obtaining pot for no other reason 
than to get high.

Ask yourself this one question: Why have California cities done such 
a great job of banning tobacco smoke from public places but have 
somehow forgotten about the dangers of smoked marijuana?

The so-called "sick" that so-called "medical marijuana" was supposed 
to help has led to fraud, abuse and waste of taxpayer money on 
county-issued medical marijuana ID cards. Pro drug-legalization 
groups have proudly stood on the backs of truly sick and used them 
for their own selfish cause.

In society today, more youth enter drug rehab for marijuana than for 
any other illegal drug, combined! Groups like Marijuana Anonymous 
have formed to help users worldwide with their marijuana addictions.

Marijuana contains hundreds of dangerous chemicals, including its 
main ingredient, THC, which has risen from about 1 percent to above 
20 percent in just two decades. New research shows marijuana use can 
lead to psychosis, depression, aggression and many other mental 
illnesses. Prop 215 fooled all of us in California. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake