Pubdate: Fri, 17 Oct 2014
Source: Tampa Bay Times (FL)
Copyright: 2014 St. Petersburg Times
Contact: http://www.sptimes.com/letters/
Website: http://www.tampabay.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419
Author: Lynda Martin

LESSONS FROM CALIFORNIA ON POT

Re: On The Road For Medical Marijuana Oct. 12

A year ago we moved from Southern California to Florida in pursuit of
a better quality of life. We had lived in California for 35 years but
had seen the state steadily decline in every area. When California
legalized the use of medical marijuana, control of the dispensaries
became almost impossible. In our city of San Bernardino, illegal
dispensaries became a blight to the city and crime increased.

Our once-beautiful city became seedy and then bankrupt, but
dispensaries continued to thrive. Just last week the City Council
imposed a total ban on land-use for these businesses and will
incorporate additional and more aggressive methods of enforcement to
rid the city of these illegal dispensaries. The overburdened police
department will be stretched even thinner to combat the crime,
vagrancy and lowered propA-erty values that these businesses bring.

Hand-painted green crosses that distinguish these shops can be found
every few blocks within the city. The people hanging around them crowd
and litter the sidewalks, beg for handouts, and smoke their dope in
public. Perhaps marijuana usage can be beneficial to those who are
truly suffering, but to regulate these shops is costly in money,
resources and the blight it brings to a neighborhood.

I had to shake my head at the picture of John Morgan grinning in a
selfie as he campaigns for Amendment 2. Even more disturbing was the
report that USF students cheered outside his bus. Are these students
in favor of medical marijuana, or the idea that it could be legalized
for their personal use?

Lynda Martin, Riverview 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard