Pubdate: Mon, 8 Jun 2009
Source: Morgan Hill Times (CA)
Copyright: 2009 Morgan Hill Times
Contact:  http://morganhilltimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3809
Cited: Gilroy City Council 
http://www.cityofgilroy.org/cityofgilroy/city_hall/city_council/default.aspx
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/dispensaries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

SC DESERVES A MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

New Administration Policies Help

It's time to apply some common sense.

California residents approved Proposition 215, knows as the 
Compassionate Use Act, in 1996 with 5,382,915 (55.6 percent) votes in 
favor and 4,301,960 (44.4 percent) against, but federal laws have 
trumped the state's rights.

Now, two Morgan Hill men are looking to open a medical marijuana 
dispensary in north Gilroy to serve South County patients.

One of the difficulties dispensaries face has been the response of 
the federal government. Under the administration of George W. Bush, 
federal agents raided California dispensaries selling medical 
cannabis, claiming the state had no right to pass the bill since 
marijuana was prohibited under federal law. That has changed under 
the Obama administration. In February, Attorney General Eric Holder 
announced the federal government would no longer raid 
medical-marijuana clubs that abide by state laws. That's a start.

Detractors Say It Will Increase Crime

Batzi Kuburovich, a 48-year-old Morgan Hill resident and real estate 
agent, and his partner Neil Forrest, a 56-year real estate agent, 
formed Cornerstone Commercial Real Estate Services in Morgan Hill. 
Now, they have applied to open MediLeaf.

The Gilroy City Council is considering the application.

Meanwhile, advocates and detractors have inundated the comment page 
on our Web site. Detractors say a medical marijuana dispensary will 
increase crime, allow access to marijuana to those who attempt to 
fraudulently purchase it and that it is addictive and a gateway drug 
that will lead users down the path of using harder, more addictive drugs.

Hogwash.

Reap the Benefits and Ease Suffering

Advocates say allowing dispensaries to sell medical marijuana will 
not increase crime, but could in fact decrease crime, and will bring 
in much needed revenue.

Kuburovich and Forrest say at least two security guards will screen 
people entering a closed foyer, and an "open-door policy" with police 
will emphasize that the pair has no stomach for people who feign 
symptoms to acquire prescriptions that they then use to buy legal 
marijuana to sell on the streets, Kuburovich told reporter Michael Moore.

In fact, patients buying from state-authorized dispensaries will 
reduce the number of people buying from illegal street dealers. And 
make no mistake, they are using street dealers.

A report, "Marijuana Production in the United States," by marijuana 
policy researcher Jon Gettman, concludes that despite massive 
eradication efforts at the hands of the federal government, 
"marijuana has become a pervasive and ineradicable part of the 
national economy."

Contrasting government figures for traditional crops -- like corn and 
wheat -- against the study's projections for marijuana production, 
the report cites marijuana as the top cash crop in 12 states and 
among the top three cash crops in 30. The study estimates that 
marijuana production, at a value of $35.8 billion, exceeds the 
combined value of corn ($23.3 billion) and wheat ($7.5 billion).

The bottom line: Legalize medical marijuana, tax and regulate it just 
as alcohol is, punish those who break the law, reap the financial 
benefits and ease a ton of suffering. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake