Pubdate: Thu, 07 Feb 2013 Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA) Copyright: 2013 Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact: http://newsreview.com/sacto/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/540 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n057/a01.html Author: Caroline Bigard SEPARATE THE WEED FROM THE CHAFF Re "Legalize it, ban it" by Nick Miller (SN&R Midtown&Down, January 31): As your column pointed out, the leadership of the city of Sacramento is unwise to close most of the dispensaries. It would have been far better to try to separate the weed from the chaff by appointing someone to head a commission to regulate the dispensaries, thereby helping medical users. However, it is clear that the Sacramento leadership is, as usual, more concerned about the whereabouts of the Sacramento Kings than about filling the city's coffers. The wholesale closing of dispensaries only demonstrates the short-term view of those who are temporarily in a position of power. Weed will not disappear, but unfortunately, common sense has. Marijuana is a relatively innocuous substance that should be studied, not outlawed. Our elected officials need to show more integrity. The hypocrisy has to stop, and revenues must increase. Caroline Bigard via email - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D