Pubdate: Fri, 25 Mar 2011
Source: Grand Junction Free Press (CO)
Copyright: 2011 Grand Junction Free Press
Contact:  http://www.gjfreepress.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4327
Author: Tina Hall

LIES BEING SPREAD ABOUT MMJ BUSINESSES - SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH

Unfortunately, it's politics as usual in this City election with
distortions, misrepresentations and plain old lies.

In a recent issue of The Free Press, Esther Maynard wrote a letter to
the editor in which she blamed medical marijuana centers for an
increase in marijuana expulsions in the schools.

Fortunately for truth-seekers, The Free Press Editor had the good
sense to talk directly to the School District and learn the real
facts: "...it's conjecture to say there's a correlation between
expulsions and the emergence of MMJ centers."

This isn't the only instance of the ordinance supporters playing dirty
politics. They are repeating over and over that "only $2.2 million"
has been brought into the State coffers to pay for medical marijuana
regulation. They know the truth - they just don't want you to know
it.

The Department of Revenue reported that $8.9 million in application
fees has already been collected from medical marijuana businesses and
that the taxpayers have not spent a dime to regulate the centers.

The State is taking medical marijuana regulation very seriously: more
staff and money is allocated to MMJ enforcement than to the entire
Colorado Bureau of Investigation. (See, denverpost.com, "Oversight
office for med pot is well-off" by Chuck Plunkett.)

All of the MMJ regulation is being paid for by the businesses being
regulated. Last year, the local marijuana centers paid at least $8,750
each to the State, and they will be assessed even more this year.

Medical marijuana is a constitutional right in Colorado - let's keep
it that way and Vote Against the Ordinance in the City election.

Tina Hall

Grand Junction
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.