cannabisnews.com: Going To Pot Going To Pot Posted by CN Staff on June 07, 2007 at 09:37:06 PT Editorial Source: Press Democrat California -- Depending on your point of view, it was either a political statement or a publicity stunt. Either way, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors' call for the legalization of marijuana can be politely described as wishful thinking. A Congress that can't generate a humane policy governing medical marijuana is not going to legalize the stuff. The government of Mendocino County is eager to tax the largest cash crop in the county, which is understandable. But supervisors would be well-advised not to begin making plans for how they would spend the bonanza. It turns out some -- make that, most -- places in America don't have the same laissez-faire attitude when it comes to growing and smoking marijuana.When it comes to legalization, all the usual arguments emerge. Why not tax a product that is widely used anyway and take the marketing out of the hands of the bad guys? Why should marijuana be illegal when other potentially harmful products -- read alcohol and tobacco -- are widely available?Good questions. It remains, however, that marijuana (except for people seeking relief from serious illness) is not a healthful product. Some can use the drug and live normal lives, and some cannot.This country needs a more rational, common-sense approach to marijuana and the punishments associated with it, but access to the drug needs to be controlled in more ways than marijuana's most fervent advocates would like. Note: Legal or not, state needs coherent marijuana policy.Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)Published: June 7, 2007Copyright: 2007 The Press DemocratContact: letters pressdemo.comWebsite: http://www.pressdemo.com/Related Article:Mendocino: Legalize Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23043.shtmlCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by Max Flowers on June 08, 2007 at 15:09:25 PT Typical wishy-washy vague editorializing from PD It remains, however, that marijuana (except for people seeking relief from serious illness) is not a healthful product. Define "healthful"! What a stupid blanket statement. Cannabis is "unhealthful", I suppose, compared to... steak? Sugar? What exactly is a "healthful product"? The vagueness of this idea is really lame.Some can use the drug and live normal lives, and some cannot.Here he goes again! Just what, exactly, is "normal"?? That is the ultimate subjective word. There is way too much room for interpretation there. Such a general pronouncement smacks of a judgmental, conformist mindset yet doesn't even define the conformity that it seeks to ally itself with. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Max Flowers on June 08, 2007 at 15:01:26 PT All the law they need is already here Either way, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors' call for the legalization of marijuana can be politely described as wishful thinking. A Congress that can't generate a humane policy governing medical marijuana is not going to legalize the stuff.This makes no sense to me. Mendocino County has the benefit of California law on its side, and needs nothing from Congress if it knows to stand firm with its state law. In other words, THEY NEED TO IGNORE FEDERAL LAW---California Republic is in fact its own sovereign nation and doesn't need permission from Congress for anything.Mendocino County board of supervisors needs to just forget about feds (is it hard because they are too attached to the federal teat?) and be confident in the law they already have: California HSC 11362.5 [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Hope on June 07, 2007 at 20:45:47 PT Comment 6 Makes sense. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on June 07, 2007 at 12:26:37 PT Hope I sometimes think that what society as a whole fears and makes laws to control those fears become what society becomes. People have to open their eyes and really see that fear is an emotion and it triggers reactions but really serves no positive purpose. I hope this makes sense. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Hope on June 07, 2007 at 12:05:06 PT I remember when we had a rather decent, very decent, by today's standards, law enforcement community supported by taxes and a certain degree of fines.Something went crazy somewhere.Oh, I know...when we started seizing citizen's assets and took away the citizen's right to face his accuser.We became that which we previously hated.We allowed, no, enabled, a government to go wild...and brutish. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on June 07, 2007 at 12:00:52 PT Nevada County: Medical Marijuana News Nevada County Medical Marijuana Inter-Agency Protocol Signed***By Office of the District AttorneyPublished: June 7, 2007 The Nevada County District Attorney's Office announces the approval of the Nevada County Medical Marijuana Inter-Agency Protocol. Local agencies agreeing to the updated enforcement procedures include: Nevada County District Attorney's Office, Nevada County Sheriff's Department, Truckee Police Department, Nevada City Police Department and Grass Valley Police Department.Interested members of the public are invited to view the updated protocol on the District Attorney's website. Additionally, the District Attorney's Office has prepared a Guideline for use by patients with medical marijuana recommendations. The Guideline summarizes the Inter-Agency Protocol and discusses how to possess marijuana for medical purposes within the boundaries of the law. The public may also view the Guideline on the District Attorney's website. -- http://www.mynevadacounty.com/daCopyright: 2007 YubaNet.comhttp://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_58577.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Yasuo on June 07, 2007 at 11:38:59 PT: ... Cannabis is already readily available throughout America nearly anywhere. The government legalizing and taxing the drug would only benefit the country. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by JohnO on June 07, 2007 at 11:27:25 PT: Money talks... ...or at least it always have in the past. Right now, cities, counties and states make money from fines, confiscation sales and outright resale of contraband. If it is determined to a satisfacory degree that taxation would outstrip monies recieved by defacto profiteering from the black market we might see a serious attempt to switch to a market economic based system, but I seriously doubt that will happen anytime soon. JohnO [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by dongenero on June 07, 2007 at 09:54:24 PT Some talk and some do. Some people, thankfully, try to DO things for progress, justice, fairness and freedom.Others sit back and do nothing while they criticize those who do try."Thanks" for that "enlightened" editorial Press Democrat. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment