Dear Editor,
MediLeaf opened Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 as a Not-for-Profit Mutual
Benefit Corporation according to the attorney general guidelines
with a two-step verification process and as a closed-loop
collective. Our attorneys reviewed the Gilroy City Code and advised
us that under our not-for-profit structure it would allow us to
open our doors. We opened in an effort to assist medical patients
who have a doctor’s recommendation for cannabis. We sincerely mean
no disrespect to anyone.
Marijuana dispensary owner points to ‘great personal sacrifices’ made
Dear Editor,
MediLeaf opened Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 as a Not-for-Profit Mutual Benefit Corporation according to the attorney general guidelines with a two-step verification process and as a closed-loop collective. Our attorneys reviewed the Gilroy City Code and advised us that under our not-for-profit structure it would allow us to open our doors. We opened in an effort to assist medical patients who have a doctor’s recommendation for cannabis. We sincerely mean no disrespect to anyone.
We would like to continue to work with the Gilroy City Council to complete writing the Medical Cannabis Ordinance for the City of Gilroy. In addition, we would like to mitigate in an effort to reach an amicable compromise rather than expensive litigation that neither MediLeaf nor the City of Gilroy residents would like to afford.
In five days of operation, more than 250 new members have joined Medileaf and a large percentage are Gilroy residents 19 of them are U.S. veterans, the oldest being 83 years old and served on the USS Enterprise. Undoubtedly, there is an overwhelming need for this collective in Gilroy and two-thirds of the Gilroy voters are in support of our operations and the use of medical cannabis by qualified patients.
Please consider those patients and residents in Gilroy who truly need our services. Many of us involved have made great personal sacrifices for the patients in Gilroy who truly benefit from the use of medicinal cannabis for their pain and suffering. We have been blessed to be able to help others in our community whose lives are being cut short by terminal illness or traumatic accidents. I hope that you will also feel such compassion and support us to continue to service our community in a safe, responsible and legal manner.
Batzi Kuburovich, Gilroy
Alcohol kills, but it’s ‘impossible to overdose on cannabis’
Dear Editor,
I find it sad that in today’s world there are still news papers like yours that will not take the time to see that there are true legitimate reasons for medical cannabis.
I urge you to take just a few minutes to educate your staff with facts. Here is one for you that you will find hard to believe. People die from alcohol abuse and overdose everyday,
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERDOSE ON CANNABIS. We need people especially people in the media to get away from the slanderous not fact based reporting. Please look into the situation and give both sides.
Ed Esters, Morgan Hill
Can you spare a little time and effort for our troops overseas?
Dear Editor,
This holiday season the local Gilroy Chapter of Operation Interdependence is asking for the community’s support in letting the troops know that they are in our thoughts.
The volunteers of the Gilroy office at 8021 Carmel St. have been packaging up “civilian rations” for all branches of the military. C-rats are individual quart sized baggies that contain a personal note and snacks, such as corn nuts, gum, peanuts, and jerky.
The goal of OI is to provide every service man or woman with C-rats from home every month during their entire deployment. OI volunteers in 12 distribution centers throughout the country, including Gilroy, pack and ship 50 C-rats (baggies with treats and a personal note) per box.
OI delivers enough boxes to the frontlines so that at mail call everyone in that unit or platoon gets a goodie bag including a personal note from home. For many, it is the only communication they receive from home. This season the local Gilroy Chapter is asking for your help. Currently we are shipping 15 boxes a month from Gilroy.
These local boxes will reach 750 service men and women each month. Each box costs us $30.00 to ship overseas. We are in dire need of funds to continue to ship our 15 boxes each month through the holiday season.
Any amount of support will go directly to our shipping costs. OI is a 501 C3 non-profit, charitable organization; so all donations are tax deductible. We will gladly provide you with a letter noting your donation for tax purposes. Donations may be made out to OI and sent to Operation Interdependence c/o Karen Humber, 790 Eschenburg Dr., Gilroy.
We are also in need of letters for each baggie. Letters may be dropped off at the Nob Hill Mail Center or at First Street Coffee. Any questions may be directed to Karen at 848-2630.
Thank you for keeping the troops in your thoughts and for your continued support in letting them all know we are thinking about their sacrifices and their safety.
For more information: www.oidelivers.org.
Karen Humber, Gilroy, a Marine mom
Health care bill story missed the mark on 46 million uninsured
Dear Editor,
The Nov. 12 Gilroy Dispatch article “Health care bill elicits hope, worries from locals,” cites a figure of 46 million uninsured Americans. This oft-quoted statistic is actually a gross overestimation of the problem, as recent research suggests the number of Americans who cannot currently afford health insurance is much lower.
A new study by Dr. June O’Neill, who served as Director of the Congressional Budget Office from 1995-1999, shows that nearly half of those uninsured Americans could likely afford to purchase health coverage. The average “voluntarily uninsured” household makes $65,000 per year.
We should not rush into the creation of a new, expensive healthcare system without a better understanding of the uninsured population. As long as we continue basing our arguments on inaccurate numbers, it’s hard to see how we can make effective policy decisions.
Kristen Lopez Eastlick, senior economic analyst,
Employment Policies Institute, Washington, D.C.
Teacher finds that the Christmas spirit is alive and well in Gilroy
Dear Editor,
Generosity is alive and well in Gilroy. I had the opportunity to be reminded once again that there are kind-hearted individuals that live in our town. It is important to be thankful and this time of year, with the holidays approaching, it is good to see that there are individuals that think of more than just themselves.
On Veteran’s Day I was shopping at the Dollar Tree in Gilroy and I had an experience that reminded me of how significant random acts of kindness are. My cart was full of gifts for my second-grade students. I asked if there was a teacher discount, which would have helped me to afford the items. It was then that the man behind me offered to pay for a portion of the cost of the cart full of goodies and wished me a Merry Christmas.
This act, along with his kind words about teachers, was really a welcome breath of fresh air. It is hard to afford the goodies for our students, but teachers do sacrifice (time, effort and money) to make things happen. We really do care.
It was so nice to see that this kind-hearted man recognized the impact teachers make on the lives of their students.
Since I did not get your name I cannot have my class write a thank you. So I hope you will accept this public thank you. My class and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Yes, Virginia, Santa Claus is alive and well in Gilroy.
Carolyn Acosta second grade teacher,
R.O. Hardin School, Hollister
Columnist should think twice about his anti-‘Weed-Mart’ stance
Dear Editor,
I wonder if John Larson will be so opinionated about marijuana when he learns that the pot laws were founded on absurd racist lies.
“Marihuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white men’s shadows and look at a white woman twice.” (Hearst newspapers nationwide, 1934)
“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the U.S., and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana can cause white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others. … the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.”
– Federal Bureau of Narcotics Director Harry J. Anslinger, 1930
These fictions were the reasons given for outlawing cannabis in 1937. Which imaginary tale does Larson think actually applies. Which lie justifies putting people into prison for marijuana?
Ralph Givens, Daly City
