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Sure people may abuse it. But weigh the consequences and the benefits. If someone gets high when its not medically necessary, what is the consequence to society? It is just about the least addictive substance out there. And some people really do benefit.

posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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The best leg that the sherriff had to stand on against the cafes is the risk of impaired driving. I know drunk driving is extremely dangerous and want all drunk drivers off the road, but that doesnt mean i think we should close down all bars in Oregon. I just don't see how the cannabis cafes would significantly add to the ocurrence of driving while impaired.

The Sherriff may also be right that it is a bit of a "scam." Sure, many people will find loopholes and smoke in the cafes when they don't really need to. But if the cafe helps only 10 people who REALLY need it, people whose apartment prohibits smoking, or they cannot take another pain medication (i.e. their liver is compromised so they cannot take vicodin or oxycotton), and for those ten people to get help a thousand people end up smoking pot who don't need it, then i think it is still worth it. As a taxpayer i don't care if a a thousand extra people are high off marijuana when it is not a medical necessity, because it is such a benign drug and they don't pose a threat to me. I am much more concerned about perscription pill addicts, alcoholics, meth addicts, etc. Those are the populations that we need to focus on and those are the people that need the most help, and these substances are more costly to society as a whole.

ONE MORE POINT- I found it truly offensive that Sheriff Tom Bergin was belittling the pain of Madeline Martinez and callers on the show. He said "oh i have herneated discs and I just deal with it." Good for you sir, I'm sure everyone's herneated discs are as easy to deal with as yours and they don't deserve pain medication. Yeah. Right. Its your choice to deal with your pain as you choose. Let other people deal with their pain, legally, as they choose.

posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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