Pubdate: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA) Copyright: 2014 Francine Richardson Contact: http://www.chicoer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861 Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority Author: Francine Richardson POT RESTRICTIONS WILL LEAD TO PROBLEMS Personally, I don't smoke the stuff, but having lived in the Oroville foothills for over 13 years now, I can tell you crime will be absolutely rampant if these new medical marijuana growing restrictions are passed. As it stands, there's safety in "cooperatives," where several patients grow on one parcel. I know people who have been beaten up for their plants, and if they limit the number of plants to the extent they are discussing, these "pot bandits" will just get nastier and bolder, hopping fences to get what they can, by whatever means necessary. Older people who seem to find relief from the medicinal properties of marijuana, for ailments such as arthritis, cancer, etc., will be the easiest targets for what can be some very vicious robberies. Some may not even be able to cultivate their own marijuana. It was very quiet last year in this area, but if they pass these restrictions that will leave everybody to "fend for themselves," as it were, people are going to get hurt, I just know it. The folks who are advocates for these new laws clearly don't have to worry about the fallout that will occur in the areas where the problems are going to hit the hardest. Please consider what will be the result of what they are proposing. - - Francine Richardson, Oroville - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D