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4A – Daily News – Wednesday, June 9, 2010 Opinion Hemp festival Editor: D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. 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How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Contrary to the glowing reports from the media, this is what I saw at the event. I, like so many other curious people, drove by numerous times. Most of the traffic was caused by the drive bys. Contrary to the Record Searchlight report of a thousand people, there wasn’t ever that many people there at the same time. Saturday I did pay to get in and we walked around and took pictures of what was actually tak- ing place. Some people, who were just coming in, lit right up. Again contrary to reports, there was no checking for prescrip- tions, I mean recommendations, nor was there designated smoking areas. Buying and selling your wears did exist. Why didn’t the sheriff make the venders get licenses and collect sales taxes? The presence of security was never seen. The strong smell of burning marijuana was every- where. Children were seen play- ing in and around where people were using marijuana. There are laws that cover supplying, admin- istering, furnishing, selling or sharing of your own medication. The most disturbing sights were parents carrying or strolling their babies while dragging on a joint. And I can honestly say that infuriated me. I don’t care about the dimwitted parents, but I do care about the helpless babies and small children who were put in the position of smelling the stench of marijuana all day. In 2006 a news report came out that said California identifies secondhand smoke as a “Toxic Air Contaminant.” Each year tobacco smoke is responsible for the release of 40 tons of nicotine, 365 tons of responsible particu- late matter and 1,900 tons of car- bon monoxide. Parker stated, marijuana smoke was 10 times worse. We need ordinances that state marijuana smoking will be under guidelines and limits just like cigarette smoking laws. The announcer on stage using the loud speaker was yelling, “Are you enjoying being medicat- ed?” We are going to have some “medicated popcorn” while we watch the movie about the Emperor who wore no clothes. “This movie might be inappropri- ate for children but we want you to come and join us and get med- icated.” I was so angry I went to speak with Parker, again. I said, “What the hell, I can’t believe you are just sitting there while those guys are smoking around little babies what is the matter with you?” He told me there was nothing he could do and he knew they were breaking the law. If he arrested anyone the DA would not prose- cute. My heart did go out to him and his officers who were there, as I know Parker has always been against drug users, growers and sellers. But the fire in his blood just didn’t seem to be there at this particular event. Parker knows his department is responsible for the protection of the residents and others who are in the county and is to protect them from the evils and evil doers no matter what the circumstances are, especially the ones who can’t protect them- selves. Kathy Nelson, Red Bluff Hemp Editor: Certainly anyone including myself who grew up in the past 50 years knows someone who smoked or smoked themselves. Marijuana has proven to be harmful in many ways. There are safe alternatives most of the time. Some patients may have a legitimate need to use marijuana and are entitled to do so under the law after meeting the legal requirements. However, the last thing our county needs is to be the world headquarters for hemp. I say allow what is allowable under the law or the voters can change the law if they see fit. Your Turn other adverse effects. This is not a debate of whether or not it should be decriminalized. It is a dialogue about whether Red Bluff needs to be the hemp capital of the world. Being an advocate of medical marijuana usage is one thing, dis- guising contempt for the adverse effect it will have on others with an event that will taint our community is another. Rick Caylor, Red Bluff Proud of RB Editor: I am sympathetic to the legiti- mate medical need for some patients to use marijuana. I do not advocate its use otherwise. This festival however is a grandiose, self-serving, in your face way to test the system and get high, in my opinion. Why is it that so many medical marijuana patients are young peo- ple? Wouldn't it hold true that as you become older the need for medical treatments of any kind would increase? My concern is the message we are sending — marijuana is not free from problems. Medication is prescribed with the side-effects and cautionary statements includ- ed. With marijuana it comes with no mention of the detriment it may cause. I am not making a judgment about anyone personally. It does damage lungs, causes short term memory issues and has many Just think when people ask you what Red Bluff is proud of. Why we have the Round-Up, the Bull Sale, the Junior Rodeos. But now we have what is going to be an annual event called the hemp expo. The pot smokers will be overjoyed with that. Why they can buy smoke products and posters to show the young kids. I wonder what the city fathers were thinking about? Could it bring that much money in to the town to have an event which pro- motes an illegal form of drugs? We have told our children for years and years to stay away from drugs, don't smoke any kind of cigarettes or do any form of drugs. I know the pot smokers reasoning is medicinal, but what is it telling the younger generation? If you read last week’s paper you would have seen a guy smok- ing a pot pipe. All I can say is somebody really goofed up when they allowed this event in to the city. And the sheriff's poster there who was running for re-election. Is this something to be proud of? I think not. Sue Lord-Rodrigue, Manton Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. My sisters teach equality to the women of Afghanistan Commentary As Afghanistan attempts to reach a peace accord with Tal- iban leaders, U.S. lawmakers, says USA Today, "have made clear that they want women's rights preserved in any potential deal to integrate former insur- gents into the government." My five sisters took it upon themselves to prepare Afghani women for equality. "We hear the Taliban men made you cover your faces and wear floor-length shrouds," said one of my sisters to one Afghan woman. "It is true," said the woman. "And they wouldn't let you work or allow your daughters to go to school?" "Also true." "And men got to marry multi- ple women, whereas if a woman's husband died, she was reduced to begging for food for her starving children," said another sister. "Yes." "And so repressive was your country that women faced beat- ings just for laughing out loud," said another sister. "All of this has been so," said the woman. "But is this not also true in your country?" "Hah!" shouted one sister. "In our country, men finally know their place. In America, men are good for only one thing. But how often do you need to parallel park anyway!" "You confuse me," said the woman. "Look," said one sister, "women have equality in Ameri- ca. We are educated like men. We have equal rights in every way." "Show me how to do this," said the woman. "For starters," said one sister, "you shouldn't walk five paces behind your men. It is high time your men follow you." "Huh?" said the woman. "When they show interest in you, ignore them," said another sister. "Ignore?" "That's right. Pretty soon, they'll want to marry you and after you marry, the real ignoring begins." "Precisely," continued another sister. "The more you ignore them, the more they will want to please you. They'll work hard to make money. They'll take care of the yard, cook, clean, do the gro- cery shopping, watch the kids, and they'll love every minute of it." "But how do you get them to do this?" said the woman. "Keep them guessing," said one sister. "When they think you're going to laugh, be angry. When they think you're going to be angry, laugh. They must remain in a constant state of confusion." "I see," said the woman. "The more you con- fuse them, the harder they will work to please you," said another sis- ter. "They must also fear you." "Fear?" took us a while, but now we're finally running things, too -- as it should be." "As it should be?" said the woman. "That's why those Tom "That's right," said one sister. "They must know that if they do anything to harm you or their children, they may wake in the morning miss- ing some of their vital parts." "Oh, my," said the woman. "It is through constant displea- sure and fear that your men will begin to do the only thing they know how to do well." "Parallel parking?" said the woman. "No," said one sister. "Beg- ging. Begging for your forgive- ness." woman. "This is amazing," said the "Look," said another sister. "Women have always known they are smarter than men. It Purcell Taliban idiots have been so hard on you," said one sister. "It was fear and respect. They knew what you would do to them if you acquired the equality women have in Ameri- ca." "I like this Ameri- ca," said the woman. "We've got our men properly trained," said another sister, "and if you follow our guidance, you'll train your men, too. So what do you say?" "I say men in Afghanistan are good for only one thing. But how often do you need to saddle a donkey anyway!" ——— Tom Purcell, a humor columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web at www.TomPurcell.com or e-mail him at Purcell@caglecartoons.com.