Pubdate: Wed, 23 Dec 2015
Source: Ukiah Daily Journal, The (CA)
Copyright: 2015 The Ukiah Daily Journal
Contact: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/feedback
Website: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/581
Author: Marc Parsley

THIS ISN'T WHAT WAS VOTED FOR

To the Editor:

I've been trying to make sense out of the growing involvement of 
State, County and City government offices and entities in the 
management of something that is still Federally illegal, i.e. pot 
cultivation and sales.

California is still calling it "medical marijuana," even though it 
breaks and defies all laws and regulations for proper manufacturing 
and management of a medicine.

Pro-pot politicians don't want the world to know they're going into 
business with "illegal drug dealers" so, for the sake of "image" they 
are calling these "illegal drug dealers," "stake holders." Today we 
have politicians and people from state regulatory agencies frequently 
visiting marijuana land to talk business solely with these illegal 
pot growers, excuse me, "stake holders" in a series of "stake holder" 
forums. All those who are making money from pot keep saying that this 
is what the voters voted for. This isn't what was voted for! All I 
see are law makers talking with local illegal drug dealers, excuse 
me, "stake holders," in pot-land forums, (where I've been assured 
that no cash changes hands), and then these law makers go back home, 
(and supposedly for no money at all), write laws that further unleash 
an industry that every year is intentionally and profitably placing 
millions of American children in harms way. Around half of the 
profits generated by the illegal pot industry comes from the pockets 
of kids under the age of 18. The pot industry is trying to correct 
this wrong with all the motivation of any industry trying to cut its 
profit margin by 50 percent.

The new laws and regulations meant to control the pot industry and 
protect the children will arrive with all the punch that minimal or 
ZERO enforcement can deliver.

Believe me, "pot profit" greed from many sources is placing all of 
our kids seriously in harms way. High potency marijuana is flooding 
every school in the nation and causing many irreversible problems 
that the pot industry refuses to own up to. Pro-pot politicians are 
making empty promises that taxation and throwing a few million of 
illegal drug money at our schools will make all these problems go 
away. The pot industry wants us all to believe that unleashed 
marijuana is a "done deal" and there's nothing can do about it... 
Isn't that what certain states once said about slavery?

I still believe that there's a whole bunch of people out there who 
know our children's health, education and the environment are more 
important than the profits of a bunch of illegal drug dealers, excuse 
me, "stake holders." Now is the time for those people to stop being 
silent and step up and vote. For the kids sake, speak out now! We 
also need these people who care about kids present when the votes are counted.

" The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and 
baffling expedients, and of delays is coming to an end. In it's place 
we are entering a period of consequence," said Sir Winston Churchill, 
November 12, 1936.

Those in the pot industry, and the politicians who are helping to 
unleash it, need to be held accountable. Tons of money, children's 
health and educations falling to the wayside, bought-off politicians 
and out of control destruction to the environment are the main 
products of the pot industry.

Speak out now or continue to just sit back silently and watch what 
illegal drug dealers do to our kids, and to all of our future.

This isn't what was voted for!

- - Marc Parsley, Willits
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom