Pubdate: Thu, 02 Sep 2010 Source: Chico News & Review, The (CA) Copyright: 2010 Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact: http://www.newsreview.com/chico/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/559 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n684/a11.html Author: Robert Galia MAKE CANNABIS AVAILABLE Re "The dark side of pot" (Letters, by Connie Neal, Aug. 19): The writer makes a good point about the relative ease of getting a medical-cannabis "license to smoke." These recommendation mills give the movement a bad name. They are making outrageous profits while law enforcement puts the hammer down on dispensaries that are bending over backward to follow existing laws and guidelines. Her declaration that cannabis is addictive is just not true. Also, association is not causation. Could it be that these "addicts" she mentions were already prone or pre-disposed to this destructive behavior? Could they be taking other drugs? Cannabis is a widely recognized source of relief for a wide assortment of physical ailments. It should be made available for qualified patients. Period. And remember, every time someone makes the safer choice and spends a dollar on some bud, that's one less dollar they will be spending on synthetic narcotics and alcohol. I can live with that. Robert Galia Chico - --- MAP posted-by: Matt