> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Can’t smoke ’em if we don’t got ’em - URL: https://www.smdp.com/cant-smoke-em-if-we-dont-got-em/ - Published: 2007-11-03T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T03:48:17.000Z - Author: Guest Author - Tags: Opinion, Montana, #archive-import This past week, Q-line asked: Should the city welcome dispensaries as they would any other state-approved business? What safeguards do you believe should be put in place? Here are your responses: “THERE SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NO marijuana dispensaries in this city. We have far too many addicts and drug-dealing in this city here already. These stores are just fronts for drug dealing, but the whackos on the City Council will see them as just another source of revenue. The public be damned once again. Those who need real pain medication should see a reputable M.D. and use approved medications.” “WELL, THERE REALLY AREN’T ANY safeguards that the city has to impose on the dispensaries. They should just put them in locations where they will be profitable; and that would be next to the high schools — definitely appropriate, and along Montana (Avenue) next to the coffeeshops, where the leisure classes have easy access.” “CONSIDERING THAT THERE IS NO shortage of marijuana, nor is there a shortage of those who smoke marijuana in Santa Monica and the entire south and north beach areas, why all the hypocritical hullabaloo? Even our former presidents have stated that they smoked marijuana in the past, but did ‘not inhale.’ Those who believe that they did not inhale, might be interested in three bridges I have for sale — The Golden Gate, Oakland and Brooklyn Bay. It is interesting to note that those who impose and enforce drug laws to protect the deadly tobacco industry, when they are not playing footsies and toe-sies in an airport men’s room, are awash in the use of various forms of narcotics — both prescribed and illegal. Prescribed drugs often have such horrible side effects that one often has to have a death wish to use them. We should legally sell marijuana, tax marijuana and use the tax money to help those legitimate organizations who are there to help those that need help.” “THE WAR IN IRAQ HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE tragedy for many, however, it is a minor skirmish compared to the insidious war on drugs. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were major pot traffickers. The crops that built our economy were tobacco, cotton and hemp (or pot). Everything was made of pot, from shoes to clothes, to rope and ship sails; also, many medical remedies from human to animals. The only reason it became illegal is because of major lobbying and lies from the clothing industry.” “IF WE DO HAVE THESE MARIJUANA places in there, all the gang-bangers will probably try and rob it and steal the marijuana. What they should do is make sure everybody’s prescription is legitimate. There’s so many people just taking the stuff. Anyone stupid enough to use drugs in the first place is a moron, and we’re better off if they all die of an overdose... except for the people who are really sick and actually need it.” “I AM A MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENT in the state of California. I would love to see a dispensary on Main Street opened. That’s one person in favor of the marijuana dispensaries in Santa Monica.” “WELL, THIS IS TOO MUCH — A MARIJUANA store in Santa Monica? No, no, no. For a change, we have to agree with the city officials. What kind of message that would be for our children! And the smell of the smokers and the smoke — it’s not pleasant. And what about the law of no smoking anywhere? If it is medical, they have to make it into pill form. Poor St. Monica is crying. She would be watching pot city gone wild. As if we don’t have enough corruption, God doesn’t approve it. I know it, and I don’t either. Lots of people don’t. It stinks.” “LET’S NOT FOOL OURSELVES. THIS question leads to the complete lawful use of marijuana. So what is the difference between being drunk or stoned? You should not operate a vehicle in either case. Is pot a gateway drug to speed or heroin? The police have a problem with pot because they see the dark side of human stupidity, but I think people should be able to make their own stupid decisions, even if it involves overindulgence, and that’s their choice. If a medical dispensary with pot helps a cancer patient with nausea, cope with a painful life, then we need to have a conversation about free choice. I have a friend who uses free will and has smoked weed every day for over 12 years — that was his choice. Why not let others have the freedom to make a good or bad decision?” “AS A DEDICATED POT SMOKER, I CAN tell you that the city of Santa Monica does-n’t necessarily need to welcome dispensaries in our city. Venice has them, West LA has them, the Valley has them, Downtown LA has them. We seem to be the small oasis that doesn’t have them, and that’s OK with me. Trust me, if you smoke weed, medically or not, you know where to get it, and if you need to cross into the Venice border to get it — which is two miles away — what’s the big deal? We’re a pretty class act and we’re surrounded by dispensaries within five miles. I think it’s a good idea not to welcome them just to avoid the federal raids, the ambiguity in law, the loopholes and the unsolved issues. Until all legal issues are resolved, I think we’ll be inviting trouble.” “THE CITY SHOULD WELCOME DISPENsaries like any other state-approved business. What safeguards should be put in place? What safeguards do you need against people with AIDS or others that have legitimate reasons for using dispensaries? As far as Councilmembers saying they don’t want it because of the ‘pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.’ What city do they live in? Do they live somewhere else and drop by helicopter to City Hall? I don’t find a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere anywhere in Santa Monica. If you don’t have bums peeing on your feet, it’s all kinds of traffic and people running stop-lights. This isn’t a pedestrian-friendly place. What are they crazy?” “SAFEGUARDS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE. It’s called a ‘prescription.’ You have to have a prescription to use medical marijuana in the state. As far as I’m concerned, the negativity should be lifted because people that are sick, vomiting all day, dealing with pain should have a right to take whatever medicine they want, whether it’s from a pharmaceutical company or I can grow it in my garden. Lay off dispensaries because you’re putting a stop to people that need that for their pain. I’ve seen them. Most people don’t have that kind of pain and they have no idea. Let’s help those that do.” “I BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE allowed to come into the city, but those using the dispensaries should wear a big scarlet letter, like a ‘P’ across their chest while they participate in the dispensary program.” “YES, WE SHOULD ALLOW THE DISPENsaries like we would any other state-approved business. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 3, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/110307.pdf?ref=smdp.com)