Pubdate: Fri, 24 Sep 2010
Source: Union, The (Grass Valley, CA)
Copyright: 2010 The Union
Contact: http://apps.theunion.com/utils/forms/lettertoeditor/
Website: http://www.theunion.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/957
Author: Kyle Magin, Staff Writer
Cited: Proposition 19 http://yeson19.com/
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/find?272 (Proposition 19)

'JUST THE FACTS' PANELISTS: DON'T LEGALIZE POT

Panelists took turns panning California's marijuana legalization 
initiative this week in Grass Valley, calling it poorly written, a 
danger to youths and an invitation to a poor quality of life in the 
Golden State.

The Wednesday "Just the Facts" forum, sponsored by Coalition for a 
Drug-Free Nevada County and Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce, 
featured seven panelists who oppose the Nov. 2 ballot measure to 
legalize marijuana, Proposition 19.

They included Nevada County District Attorney Cliff Newell, Nevada 
County Sheriff's Sgt. Bill Smethers, Grass Valley Police Capt. Rex 
Marks, Chip Arenchild of InterWest insurance, Michelle Gregory of the 
California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, Earle Jamison High School 
Principal Anita Bagwell and Aimee Hendle, a representative of the San 
Diego-based group Californians for Drug Free Youths.

Newell, a critic of the initiative's language, pointed to passages 
written to make it difficult to fire employees who appear to be under 
the influence of marijuana unless the drug affects their performance.

"It portends problems in the future," he said. "An employer couldn't 
take them offline until they have an accident."

Initiative backers argue legalizing pot would help cut down on 
illegal cultivation, such as vast plantations by Mexican drug cartels 
- - a claim Smethers and Gregory rejected. The cartels sell 
California-grown marijuana to other states and would continue to do 
so even if Prop. 19 passes, Smethers said

"The Mexican cartels don't own property in our community. They don't 
pay taxes," he said.

The drug could become more available to teens, who suffer from its 
use, Bagwell said.

"It's hugely harmful academically," she said. "They don't engage. 
Teachers say students who use drugs have a 'duh' look," Bagwell said.

Some marijuana advocates who attended the forum left frustrated that 
it covered only one side of the issue.

"It was extremely disappointing because what the community needs and 
deserves is a forum that's balanced and has accountability for both 
sides," said Martin Webb, owner of Plan It Solar in Penn Valley.

Earlier in the decade, Webb was director of the now-defunct Cannabis 
Resource Center in Nevada City, which offered information about the 
benefits of medical marijuana.

"I wouldn't say I'm someone who's gung-ho about Prop. 19, but I found 
this disappointing," Webb added. "I left disheartened. They should 
have called it 'just the opinions.'" 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake