Pubdate: Wed, 20 Mar 2013 Source: Valley Courier (CO) Copyright: 2013 2010 News Media Corporation Contact: http://www.alamosanews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5117 Author: S. Hobbs CANNABIS DISPENSARY IS A GOOD THING This letter is in response to the "vote against evil" letter written by Jim Robbins. Who do you think made the plant you refer to as evil? God did. Who has discovered its many uses and yes, health related benefits? Man did. Who is evil God or man or a plant? Man is of course, so why in the world would you say that cannabis is evil itself? Just because the generation you grew up in demonized a plant, doesn't make it evil. Research from doctors, scientist, and universities has consistently shown what types of diseases and conditions it is useful for, as a medicine. From pain management to Multiple Sclerosis, epilepsy and diabetes, glaucoma and migraines just to name a few. And furthermore, there are senators and congressmen and women right now pushing legislation through to have cannabis reclassified since it does have medical benefits, and we will soon see the end federal prohibition. Colorado ended prohibition of alcohol a year before the federal government did so this is just a case of history repeating itself, and a right of choice being returned to the citizens. This is a better medicine than what most doctors are writing on paper and people are selling and abusing and causing deaths. Cannabis will never be that kind of medicine, it's just not possible for it to cause harm, if you don't believe me, educate yourself. Google real scientific journal articles, not opinion pieces that have been revised from the same script used for the last 70 years of disinformation. So what if Darius Allen is against it, million upon millions of others are for it all across this state and nation. Don't blame him; he did his job. I applaud him for voting for something his constituents voted for instead of letting his personal beliefs get in the way. That is what "separation of church and state" is meant to protect the voting public from! Frankly, he is going to have to answer to the people of Alamosa County if he wants to keep his job as commissioner, and as for the "day when he will have to explain not only what he believes in his heart, but also promoting drug use by voting to support it", you can disagree with me on this but, I don't think cannabis use for medicine is going to be a concern of God's, but being judgmental, biased and being ignorant of the many ways to alleviate the suffering of God's children may be an issue. This dispensary is a good idea; the black market is all that is available since Sensativa shut down, unless one drives to San Luis. Why not let the county make some money off of a new legitimate business, instead of lining the pockets of those who don't want to play by the rules or pay the city to operate their "business". Sincerely, S. Hobbs Alamosa - --- MAP posted-by: Matt