Pubdate: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 Source: Yakima Herald-Republic (WA) Copyright: 2013 Yakima Herald-Republic Contact: http://www.yakima-herald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/511 Author: Aaron Fowler COUNCIL HYPOCRITICAL ON MARIJUANA ISSUE To the editor - I personally find it very hypocritical that the Yakima City Council has decided to ban the manufacture, distribution and sale of recreational marijuana within the city limits. The reason it's hypocritical is because one of the major tourist draws to our area and city is alcohol. Go into any grocery store or mini-market and you can find all kinds of booze, from hard liquor to beer to wine. We see signs on street lights going down Yakima Avenue that say "Wine Country." I heard Carmen Mendez say something to the effect that we should ban marijuana because it gives kids the idea that smoking marijuana is OK and it's not. Why isn't she saying that selling alcohol within city limits gives kids the idea that drinking alcohol is OK and it's not? We also should ban the sale of tobacco and caffeine within city limits as well. Both are addictive drugs, and we shouldn't be sending a message to children that it's OK to use them. Concerned citizens and those tired of hypocrisy, please stand with me and send a clear message to the City Council that their selective banning is wrong. Aaron Fowler Yakima - --- MAP posted-by: Matt