Pubdate: Sun, 26 Oct 2014
Source: Peoria Journal Star (IL)
Copyright: 2014 Peoria Journal Star
Contact:  http://pjstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/338
Note: Does not publish letters from outside circulation area.
Author: Ken Maurer
Note: Ken Maurer is president of the village of Metamora
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

BENEFITS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA SITE IN METAMORA FAR OUTWEIGH THE NEGATIVES

When I was first approached about having a medical marijuana
cultivation site in Metamora, I said we were most likely not
interested. My reaction was based on years of thinking of marijuana as
"pot," being sold by a drug dealer on a street corner. After doing
research, I changed my mind for three reasons.

The first was hearing about a 4-year-old boy who had epileptic
seizures. Specially grown marijuana that produced the right strain
would stop the seizures. I heard about cancer patients who after
treatment experienced terrible side effects. With the right medical
marijuana, they experienced no side effects. I learned there are 41
debilitating illnesses that can be treated with legally grown
marijuana. Metamora is a caring community willing to help those who
are in trouble medically. The medicine produced from genetically
engineered marijuana could potentially help many sick people improve
their lives.

The second reason is jobs. A medical marijuana cultivation site would
bring 25 jobs to the community with the potential of up to 100. Many
of them will go to local citizens who can be trained to grow, trim
buds, graft plants, etc. Some hires will be to people outside the
community who may move here to buy houses, gasoline, groceries and eat
in our restaurants, bringing in needed tax revenues.

Metamora needs economic development, plus the $10,000 per month lease
revenue. We are repairing and replacing the bricks on our historic
square. We need to replace our community center/legion hall, repair
and add sidewalks, update our water and sewer infrastructure, etc. We
can pay for it by raising the taxes on our current base, or we can
expand our tax base.

The third reason is that a medical marijuana cultivation facility,
while it falls under the Department of Agriculture, is a health care
business. It will be one of the most regulated, inspected and secure
businesses in the state. The plants are all grown indoors using
hydroponics and grow lamps. The facility will have a fence around it
with guards and 24-7 video surveillance monitored by the State Police.
No product will be sold at the site. Trucks will take the product to
dispensaries, where it will be sold to patients with a prescription.
The business will have up to a $6 million investment before it ever
makes a dime.

A medical marijuana cultivation facility in Metamora would be a
win-win-win -- for the patients who need this medicine, for Metamora
and Woodford County residents who will benefit from the economic
development, and for the health care business making the investment in
our community.
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MAP posted-by: Richard