Pubdate: Wed, 31 Oct 2012
Source: Daily Sentinel, The (Grand Junction, CO)
Copyright: 2012 Cox Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.gjsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2084
Author: Craig Droskin

AMENDMENT 64 COULD MAKE COLORADO LIKE AMSTERDAM

After spending several weekends in Denver this summer, I was
disappointed to see the proliferation of so-called "medical" marijuana
shops. On "60 Minutes," Steve Kroft reported that there are more pot
shops in Denver than McDonalds and Starbucks combined.

In January, the federal government required that all pot shops must be
at least 1,000 feet from any school. Has anybody thought about the
fact that kids don't only hang out at schools? Most commercial streets
are situated immediately in front of neighborhoods where, by the way,
kids live and play.

Fortunately, in Grand Junction we don't have a pot shop on every
corner because we voted to ban medical marijuana dispensaries. We
should say "No" again to Amendment 64. It could make Colorado the only
state in the union to legalize pot for recreational use, attracting
drug users from the entire country to our state. Try googling "Pot
tourism in Amsterdam" and decide if this looks good for Colorado.

Proponents claim our state will benefit from the tax revenues it will
generate, but the Journal of Psychiatric Research reports that
marijuana use impairs brain development in teens. Do we really want to
sell the health and safety of our kids for a few tax dollars? The New
York Times reports medical marijuana is already getting into the hands
of our children.

How much more available will it be if it's sold and regulated like
alcohol?

Just because something is profitable doesn't always mean that it's the
right thing to do. Prostitution and stealing can be profitable, but
that doesn't make them right for Colorado.

CRAIG DROSKIN

Grand Junction
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt