Bates Area Civic Association

I received on overwhelming number of responses opposing a medical marijuana dispensary operating at 1334 N. Capitol St NW. As we are a respectful community, we must RESPECT and LISTEN to all sides of an issue. We may not always agree but we must always respect different views. We welcome all perspectives.

Geovani A. Bonilla

A neighbor did offer a different perspective however; this is the well articulated view from another perspective:

On an Email Dated April 18^th, 2012 “K” says:

I am not opposed to having a medical marijuana dispensary in our community. I acknowledge the obvious fact that I am on the wrong side of this issue if you only go by the majority’s public outcry to no dispensary. However, as a cancer survivor, I strongly believe I am on the side of fairness and compassion for the chronically ill and terminally sick living in our community. I am on the wrong side of this issue for the right reasons albeit a minority. The issue not discussed is chronically and terminally ill individuals living in our community need and benefit from medical marijuana. It works only when it is readily and easily available. The evidence is overwhelming that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as arthritis, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS — or by the harsh drugs sometimes used to treat them. It can do so with remarkable safety. Indeed, marijuana is less toxic, and significantly less expensive, than many of the drugs that physicians prescribe every day.

We, are not criminals, we are law-abiding citizens who care about community, healing and justice…. Denying the terminally ill and chronically sick the opportunity to benefit from the use of an inexpensive and highly regulated way to dispense marijuana is wrong. Medical marijuana is a medically proven antidote to pain, nausea, and vomiting. To say no dispensary under a “not in my backyard” mentality denies terminally ill and chronically sick members living and paying taxes in this community both their dignity, and ability to be more comfortable with their terminal illness. Options as to what heals and medically works for the patient should be decisions made by the patient and his doctors, not the community. The intervention of a community into what is medically necessary, and therefore, what will be tolerated in the community is wrong headed thinking, the same as it would be unfair to punish to death an innocent man so that the guilty ones do not go free.

There is no easy answer here, and I appreciate and respect the communities concerns over opening a dispensary here; but if not here where. If not now when. Will all be considered as pariahs if they are terminally ill, and therefore, not permitted a convenient, safe, and regulated place to receive medication – similar to the way many states have outlawed family planning clinics. Everyday in my community and at the nearby cancer treatment hospital I visit cancer, AIDS, and terminally ill patients who attest to the benefits of medical marijuana (all of which tried various therapies, toxic drugs, and poisonous chemicals before resorting to medical marijuana). They are your neighbors, your friends, your co-workers, family members – they are an integral part of our community. They are not lepers or criminals to be segregated or denied good medicine, or the opportunity to obtain what makes them feel better and helps them get well.