Pubdate: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 Source: Chico News & Review, The (CA) Copyright: 2009 Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact: http://www.newsreview.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/559 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n000/a189.html Author: Michael Lee 'A COMPASSIONATE APPROACH' Re "Meet the Citizen Collective" (Newslines, by Meredith J. Cooper, Oct. 29): When California voters approved Proposition 215 more than a decade ago, they envisioned safe, clean medical offices where people who have a doctor's prescription could gain access to their medicine. Medical-marijuana citizens' collectives have a holistic approach to healing people. They offer yoga, tai chi, chi gong, massage and nutrition and health classes. Marijuana is a natural drug and safe; it is impossible to overdose. It can be vaporized, which isolates the medicinal properties of the cannabinols and produces no smoke. Inhaling marijuana vapor is similar to inhaling water vapor; there are no side effects. Medical marijuana helps relieve binocular pressure in the eyes of people with severe glaucoma. Marijuana helps to increase the appetite and control nausea and pain in people suffering from cancer and AIDS. Marijuana also helps with insomnia. Medical-marijuana dispensaries can stimulate the sagging economy of California. Cities like Oakland and Santa Rosa are leading the way by strictly regulating medical-marijuana dispensaries and collecting millions of dollars in taxes annually. I urge the Chico City Council to approve zoning changes that will enable the opening of a citizens' collective. By doing this, Chico will play a role in adopting a reasoned and compassionate approach to patients who are in need of medicine. Michael Lee Roseville - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake