Comments on: L.A.’s Summer of Pot

By: Matt Mason

Matt Mason — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:29:54 +0000

Article on the general subject in this week's L.A. Weekly.

By: park parkour

park parkour — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:01:43 +0000

The fact that some people smoke it for “non-medical” purposes does not negate the fact that it is a godsend for various ill patients (cancer and AIDS come to mind for starters).

In fact, a much larger portion of the general population abuse prescription drugs – esp. senior citizens. This does not mean we suddenly must outlaw prescription drugs.

And how many of us have saved the codeine/cough syrup the doctor prescribed for a cough – and finished it off recreationally?

People also drive cars without a license – this does not mean we outlaw cars.

It is amusing that people act all surprised/shocked about the smell of pot wafting in the street when it is common for that same smell to waft from the patio or backyard of most every house party held in Los Angeles! You know what I am talking about.

By: Roberta

Roberta — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:13:58 +0000

seems like certain people in my neighborhood are using it more for “recreational aromatherapy” (thx Matt). at the same time we do have a major deficit and legalizing & taxing pot would be a good revenue stream.

By: starchy

starchy — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:13:08 +0000

God Bless Barrack Obama!
Pot = tobacco = beer = wine = booze

By: Evan

Evan — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:42:36 +0000

There was the dispensary on Washington Blvd. across from the In-N-Out and Costco (which I didn’t even know was a dispensary) that was raided a few weeks back, and the feds shot and killed the dog that the owners had. The owners had a sign up for a while after that mentioning the killing.

A few months back, I was talking to a guy I know from Ireland that was staying in SoCal for a while. I met him in Santa Monica after he spent a day wandering around there and Venice, and he was baffled by the contradiction of our war on drugs while he saw numerous places offering medical marijuana and easy consultations with doctors.

Matt, the New Yorker had an excellent story last summer about medical marijuana in California, and the logistics behind growing it and selling it. Well worth a read:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/28/080728fa_fact_samuels

By: Matt Mason

Matt Mason — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:29:49 +0000

Good point, Steve. Medical marijuana must be a godsend to many patients, such as those undergoing chemotherapy and suffering severe nausea and loss of appetite. Denying them this assistance would be cruel, so they must be somewhat relieved by the apparent improvement in legal/enforcement practices. However, what I noticed this summer is that many people seem to be taking advantage of the situation more (indeed, often totally) for recreational “aromatherapy” than for a specific medical condition.

By: Herbalicious

Herbalicious — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:11:48 +0000

I can explain a lot to you about medical cannabis. What would you like to know?

Yes, you are correct when you say you are wrong & oversimplifying the alphabetical list.

Yes, taxes are being paid to the state.

What else?

By: Steve Elliott ~alapoet~

Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:47:45 +0000

While much of what you say is true in certain situations, not to be overlooked is the fact that the medical marijuana law allows many, many people who genuinely need the herb for serious, debilitating conditions to use it lawfully.

Whatever one thinks of the recreational use of marijuana, these medical patients are already protected by law and shouldn’t be made to suffer ridicule at the hands of those who aren’t familiar with the facts.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:13:29 +0000

I’m all for legalization, mainly because then the forests don’t have to be destroyed to grow the stuff in rugged areas where the farmers are not likely to get caught. The national parks are a haven for this:

http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0907-marijuana-farms.html

Legalize it and save a tree, I say. Or a forest, while you’re at it.