This is a response to the letter titled “Pot gets around” by Chuck Sturges
He claims that 5 acres is “not that much land” and “what if 48 plants were grown on every 5 acre parcel?”
He are some facts to put it into perspective. 48 plants can easily be grown within an eighth acre or less space. So that represents 2-3 percent of the land of a 5 acre parcel.
When vineyards grow grapes on these types of parcels they grow thousands of plants and they often use 80 percent or more of the land. There is 9000 acres plus of vineyards in production currently in Lake County and I have heard that 8000 more acres are earmarked for new installations. Most of these vineyards wholesale their grapes out of county, so we do not benefit from much sales tax revenue or that much job creation.
Mr. Sturges also continues saying that “Marijuana addiction has splintered my family.” I genuinely feel compassion for that reality, but I don”t agree that keeping cannabis illegal is the solution to personal addiction problems. I believe it is a public health issue and that education, prevention, and rehabilitation are the best approaches, not overcrowding our jails with non-violent drug offenders.
Alcohol addiction has splintered more families than cannabis. I don”t hear anyone seriously saying we should eradicate all the wine vines as an effective way to prevent alcoholism in individuals. I personally drink and enjoy wine from time to time. I live next to acres and acres of vineyards. It has not created a problem for me because I don”t have addiction issues.
Vote YES on Measure O so we can take one positive step forward away from failed drug war prohibition policies. Measure N throws the baby out with the bathwater and is potentially costing the county (us the taxpayers) hundreds of thousands of dollars in lawsuits due to unconstitutional enforcement tactics.
Daniel McLean, Lower Lake
