Measures for medical marijuana in La Mesa and Lemon Grove

Both La Mesa and Lemon Grove are facing allowing medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits, and many people that I speak to are outraged that this has come to the ballot—again. And that is something to think about. There are enough people that live in both of these communities that believe that compassionate marijuana sales and usage are a necessity in life, not a luxury. I am fine with those in opposition, but I believe that in many cases views are skewed by fear.

Both La Mesa and Lemon Grove are facing allowing medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits, and many people that I speak to are outraged that this has come to the ballot—again. And that is something to think about. There are enough people that live in both of these communities that believe that compassionate marijuana sales and usage are a necessity in life, not a luxury. I am fine with those in opposition, but I believe that in many cases views are skewed by fear.

I have said it before and I will say it again. I am in favor for people in need to have access to medical marijuana. I have seen it help many people that are going through cancer treatments, conditions that cause extreme pain and those with diagnosed mental illnesses. These people, many of them my friends present and now gone, utilized the legal medical marijuana dispensaries, some of which were not drinkers or drug users before. It not only provided relief in many ways depending on their condition, but also saved them thousands of dollars on medication that did not work and kept them from having to obtain marijuana illegally.

Although the majority of Californians, including citizens in both of these cities passed the Compassionate Use Act in 1996, there are those that treat these patients as if they are drug addicts and deplorable. This is my problem with the opposition. Patients that suffer from conditions where medical marijuana helps wind up addicted to strong pharmaceutical drugs because of lack of access. And the pharmaceutical companies have doctors passing them out like candy on Halloween, or have to pay for drugs that cost a fortune and do not work. So city after city, they approve ordinances to push these dispensaries out of their city and pawn off the problems to the County or other cities near them. And for a patient going through chemotherapy and radiation treatments, 10 more minutes in a car ride can make a world of difference in trying to get their medication.

Yes, there are problems with the current system in medical marijuana dispensaries, but until we start finding a way to regulate them, illegal dispensaries will keep popping up causing a financial strain on the same communities that keep opposing them. It is these illegal dispensaries that need to be stopped and although it cannot be done with one ordinance, if given a chance and some time, it can be regulated properly.

Yes, I agree that it is too easy to get a prescription from a doctor. All you have to do is pick up a copy of The Reader to see all of the many ways to get one. And many of them will dish out a prescription with little or no evidence of medical need. But none of this can be addressed if cities keep turning away the possibility of regulations, other than passing the buck to another community.

Whether or not you believe that medical marijuana is helpful to the many patients it serves is irrelevant. With this issue continuing to come back to the ballot, there are many constituents in these communities that believe it is. This is not about beliefs, it is about providing part of the community with something that it deserves and has the right to have access to.

Both Measure V for Lemon Grove or Measure U for La Mesa are imperfect and I am not saying to vote for them as they are now. But, what needs to be done is for both sides of the issue to come together and find a way to make it so. Contrary to popular belief, it is not just a bunch of potheads trying to get access to marijuana and you cannot judge a person on how they look to determine whether or not they have a condition that marijuana can help with.

Whether you kick these measures out again, that is up to the voters and for those against them, I understand your trepidations. I will be surprised if either of these measures stands as is. There are too many unanswered questions and loopholes. But in the future, because it will come up again, try talking to some of the patients that depend on these dispensaries to help them get through a difficult medical time, or to ease their pain and suffering towards the end of their lives.