Pubdate: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 Source: Long Beach Press-Telegram (CA) Copyright: 2013 Los Angeles Newspaper Group Contact: http://www.presstelegram.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/244 Authors: Jay Berstrom, Arias Steven, Diane Farrell READERS ANSWER PRESS-TELEGRAM'S QUESTION: HOW SHOULD LONG BEACH REGULATE MARIJUANA? We asked readers, How should Long Beach regulate marijuana? Allow pot the same as we allow alcohol, tobacco Cannabis distribution points should suffer restrictions no more onerous than stores that sell alcohol, tobacco, or pharmaceutical drugs. Yes, we are saying to our youth that these things are OK - for adults, and those with medical needs. But not for you, kids, 'til ya grow up or, God forbid, get sick. If the liberty of the adult citizens is not secure, the welfare of the children matters not a whit. Cannabis prohibition clearly shows the kids that we adults are lying. Some kids may progress to believing that all that comes from adults is a lie, and some of these eventually reject all authority. This has been shown to be a bad thing. We need citizens who share the load of carrying a just society forward, not shun it. Long Beach could jump ahead of the pack by permitting private herbal consumption clubs - for medical use at this juncture, but prepared for legal adult social use, with the same restrictions as bars and cigar lounges. Of course the feds will be welcome to visit any old time. But that is not the city's problem, as California law is our guiding light. I've always loved smoking the herb. And I'm a good person. Long Beach, I wish you good luck and best wishes for fair winds and a following sea in this voyage of liberty. - - Jay Berstrom, via www.presstelegram.com Put marijuana dispensaries near medical facilities The two-per-district plan sounds like a relatively good number. Rather than limiting sales sites to industrial areas, it would make more sense to have them near medical facilities. I personally don't use marijuana, but those who have a medical need for it should have a sales outlet not too far from their residence. As the stores will be for medical marijuana, a close proximity to a medical center or offices seems like a no-brainer. - - Arias Steven, via www.presstelegram.com Treat it like a legal drug - that is, regulate its use If "medical marijuana" has a legitimate purpose as a pharmaceutical "drug," it should be treated as all other pharmaceuticals are. First, an individual should receive a verifiable prescription from a legitimate physician licensed through a proper medical organization. Second, it needs to be tested for safety and regulated as all legitimate drugs are. Third, it should be sold only through a licensed pharmacy as all drugs prescribed for medical conditions are. Finally, why is it that those who prefer to "smoke their medicine" think that it should be exempt from the regulations that all other legal drugs are forced to go through? We can't buy aspirin without it being tested, and regulated, for safety and other factors. What makes "medical" marijuana different? Why has the FDA allowed this to continue? Marijuana is not an innocuous, benign drug. It should be tested, its growers should be licensed and regulated, its potency should be controlled - anything less than that and our government is nothing more than pimping itself out for the fees and taxes it can collect from an individual's addiction to marijuana. Any judgments as to its value for medicinal purposes should be left up to those who are medical professionals, just as dispensing it should be the responsibility of the pharmacies where one would buy antibiotics or other regulated and legitimate drugs. - - Diane Farrell, Lakewood - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom