Pot dispensers a bad idea for the city

In response to Flo Martin’s My Turn on July 22, I really wish she

would get the facts straight.

Regarding medical marijuana, she wrote, “California voters have

passed a proposition allowing for such dispensaries.”

That is not the case.

California voters passed a proposition allowing medical marijuana,

not dispensaries.

The city’s decision not to allow dispensaries was a zoning

decision, and rightly so.

There are many negative secondary effects of medical marijuana

dispensaries.

First of all, it can be questioned whether all of the marijuana

comes from a legal source.

Second, people buy it and then resell it illegally.

Third, these places are often robbed or burglarized.

Fourth, there is a general increase in crime and police responses

for incidents such as carjacking or assaults.

I could go on, but I believe these are reasons enough to say no to

this in Costa Mesa, especially when people can go to other cities to

obtain medical marijuana.

If one of these establishments was opened in our city, you would

see surrounding businesses be negatively affected and subsequently

leave.

I don’t think we want to reduce our tax base and I don’t think the

people living in the city want these problems near their homes and

their children.

The proper place to dispense medication is through a pharmacy.

* ALLAN MANSOOR is mayor of Costa Mesa.