To the Editor:
I am not a doctor, but you can add my name to the people who don't believe in the medical value of marijuana. But, I have seen people that needed bubble gum to survive.
For this reason, I voted for and still support the idea that some people have a personal need for marijuana.
But, and this is a big "But," I did not vote for what has become a very ugly serious problem.
Everything about this situation is ugly. We, the people of Mendocino County, have lost our standing in the law. You have not seen -- nor will you see -- any jury conviction for pot growing unless there is a drastic change in the laws. And that is the reason we have to vote "Yes on B"
I want to thank our Sheriff and the Ukiah Chief of Police for the recent inroads on this problem, but, unless we give them the laws to protect us, their hands are tied. Because both the Federal and State have stopped funding these departments, and there is such a tremendous amount of money in the drug culture, that they could easily bankrupt this county. This is the reason for the "Save the Mendocino County" campaign.
If we don't aggressively protect what we have, we will lose it.
Protect your neighbors and yourself by voting "Yes" on B
Mark Grover
Ukiah
To the Editor:
In a letter published in the May 18 edition of the Ukiah Daily Journal, Gary T. Moraga states that "we have Prop. B placed on the ballot at the urging of a handful of ultra conservatives" I am one of those folks who passionately support the placement of Measure B on the June ballot. Indeed, I cannot wait to cast my vote. But what I'd like the opponents of Measure B to understand is that I am not an ultra conservative. What I am is a fourth generation Mendocino County resident -- a lifelong Democrat. I have supported and volunteered for Senator Boxer's and Feinstein's campaigns, donated to Hillary Clinton's campaign, volunteered for Planned Parenthood. I have demonstrated against the war in Iraq. I would pay higher taxes to fund programs in our schools. I voted for Proposition 215 in 1996. But guess what? Like most Mendocino County residents, I am dismayed by where Proposition 215, SB 420, and Measure G have left us. The bottom line is, my "neighbors" are armed and growing hundreds of marijuana plants, and because of that, my kids can't explore and play in the same woods in which I spent my childhood. And sadly, my situation is not the exception -- it is the reality for many, many residents across the County.
I'd love to invite our state's legislative representatives and opponents of Measure B to sit on my deck during an evening in August (and take a deep whiff while doing so). I'd like them to walk my property line with my kids. I'm certain that we'd agree on two things: 1) that we will continue to support medical marijuana for those in true need, but 2) we require a different, common-sense solution for providing those in need with access to their medicine.
This is why bleeding-heart liberals like me support Measure B.
Jennifer Schuster
Willits
To the Editor:
Having long supported the decriminalization of pot use and growing, I am very frustrated with the anti-social outcome of Measure G. My past liberal support of legalized pot use has backfired and now our county and communities are dominated by commercial pot growing. Many people are moving to Mendocino County to grow dope. Criminal organizations are moving in. Public land is abused. Natural habitat is destroyed. Wildlife killed. Streams dewatered. And ironically many members of our community depend on the money from dope growers to make a living, with some politicians influenced by pot money. This has tended to promote hypocrisy amongst us. The State law allowing six pot plants per person with a medical need is more than sufficient. Six plants is a lot of dope. Almost anyone can obtain a medical marijuana card. Mendocino County should not be at a higher level of allowed possession of marijuana compared to other counties. A higher legal tolerance level of pot possession attracts more dope growers and associated crime, and undermines that moral of law enforcement, with ever greater commercial operations and criminal activity. It is an explosive situation. Let's get back to normal, to the State standards of medical marijuana provision and possession, and vote yes on Measure B.
Bob Whitney
Willits
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