Pubdate: Wed, 10 Nov 2010
Source: Vail Daily (CO)
Copyright: 2010 Vail Daily
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wo3Ts7AI
Website: http://www.vaildaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3233
Author: Greg Honan

RATIONALITY RULES

I am very happy to live in a place in which rationality and compassion
thrive. Colorado legislated the first extensive capitalistic medical
marijuana laws this past summer.

Local communities were given avenues to control their own destinies in
relation to their medical marijuana futures and the extent to which
Amendment 20 is involved in their neighbors' and their own lives.

To be a part of the first vote in Eagle County relating to our local
authority is something revolutionary to all of us as voters. I am
honored as a local business person involved with medical mariijuana
that our community has voted to give the medical marijuana centers in
Eagle County a continued chance to prove their existence is one that
is productive, positive, responsible and ligitimate. It takes strength
to lead and it takes courage to open your mind to new avenues.

The state guidelines for this industry are extremely detailed. The
licensing process for medical marijuana centers is designed to include
those who have a history of paying taxes and avoiding a life of crime.

No one is perfect, and marijuana is still technically illegal under
federal jurisdiction. Therefore, I am not claiming to be perfect.

But the lives you all as voters touch when you give the industry a
chance in Eagle County is quite extensive. We are now able to continue
to pay our employees, landlords, spend money at local and national
stores to cultivate medicine, support our patients who do not desire
to drive to neighboring counties to obtain their medicine in the
middle of snowstorms, pay our mortgages on our homes in Eagle County,
pay our property and sales taxes, provide a safe environment for those
wanting to learn about non-addictive medicine, support local
resturants, purchase ski passes for our employees and many more things
that are all attached to the allowance of us to continue to fight to
stay viable as a business community.

Medical marijuana is not a get-rich scheme. I am not looking for any
sympathy cards for the long hours and tough economic battles that we
face to stay viable. But I do appreciate the fact that the voters of
Eagle County have stated that I and others have the opportunity to
prove that medical marijuana centers can be a productive part of
modern society.

I am thrilled to live in an area in which the overall feeling is one
of intelligence, rationality and responsibility. Thanks to Eagle
County voters for your consideration, support and the positive vote on
Proposition 1B.

Greg Honan

Edwards
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake