Being Blunt


Prohibition fuels crime. (“From the feds to the county, the confusion surrounding medical marijuana laws are enough to drive a girl to get stoned,” June 16-22). It makes no sense for taxpayers to fund the federal marijuana prohibition when it doesn’t prevent people from using marijuana and it does make criminals incredibly wealthy and incite them to murder thousands of people in Mexico every year.


We need legal adult marijuana sales in supermarkets, gas stations and pharmacies for exactly the same reason that we need legal alcohol and tobacco sales – to keep unscrupulous black-market criminals out of our neighborhoods and away from our children. Marijuana must be made legal to sell to adults everywhere that alcohol and tobacco are sold. | Jway | via Web


Waiting to Inhale 


If health outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms, marijuana would be legal (“Mom wants pot. Now how do I send her some?” June 16-22). Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. Like any drug, marijuana can be harmful if abused, but jail cells are inappropriate as health interventions and ineffective as deterrents.


Marijuana prohibition has failed miserably as a deterrent. The only clear winners in the war on marijuana are drug cartels and shameless tough-on-drugs politicians who’ve built careers confusing the drug war’s collateral damage with a relatively harmless plant. | Robert Sharpe | Arlington, VA


(Note: Mr. Sharpe is a policy analyst with Washington, D.C.-based Common Sense for Drug Policy.)


Pending Charges


When will all of those who were elected to serve ever get down to business? (“No way, Jose: Castañeda charged with perjury for failed recall attempt,” posted June 17). It’s long past time to quit the BS and GET TO WORK. There are children to educate and communities who can’t keep their heads above water. You waste our time and money with these recall election shenanigans. Shame on all elected officials who continue to “play the game.” | Maury Treleven | via Facebook


Save Steve!


Salinas City Council positions are non-partisan, as you stated in your article (“Squid Fry,” June 9-15). What difference does it make what political party Steve McShane belongs to? You say that just because he is hosting an event for troops overseas that happens to be sponsored by the Tea Party makes him a Tea Partier? That’s absolutely ridiculous. Steve has hosted many events at his nursery for various different groups, all for good causes. The best part is, he brings our community together in ways that not many in Salinas have ever done. Does the fact that he hosts numerous school functions there, raises thousands of dollars for school programs, visits schools regularly to educate, commend, and raise awareness make him a liberal?


Before taking a stab at another local figure, check your facts first. Here Steve is, trying to organize an event to raise money for and support our troops, and you have the audacity to put him down? We need more Steve McShanes in our community, regardless of their political affiliation. Squid might want to take a few pointers from this guy on morals and ethics. Finally, Squid should remember what the first three letters in ASSUME are. | Angela Savage, Holly Hollingsworth, Nancy Getris | Salinas 


We’ll Miss You


You have lost my readership. Squid should have never written so much personal slanderous dribble [sic] against Steve McShane (“Squid Fry,” June 9-15). This is a fine man who has done so much for charity. His political views do not get in his way to be a fair councilman in our district. Shame on you for printing this article on Squid. | Dave Clark | via Facebook 


Clarification:


In our June 16 cover story, we stated the MyCaregiver Cooperative, Inc. case was postponed due to a lawyer no-show. The lawyer in question, Tracy Henderson, was at a federal arraignment and arranged for another attorney, Don Landis, to appear for her. Despite the legality of this action, the presiding judge, Lydia Villarreal, opted to postpone the case.