More pressing issues lost in din over pot

[demosincebirth]

By Chip Johnson

The biggest protests in Oakland in recent years have rarely, if ever, reflected the top priorities of its residents - and the pro-marijuana demonstration during President Obama's visit on Monday was no different.

Like most Californians, Oakland residents support the 1996 state law that provided access to medical marijuana - and that support is reflected in the city's recent approval to permit more dispensaries in the city.

But like most Americans, Oakland residents have bigger fish to fry than whether the state's largest pot dispensaries should be allowed to remain open. It's the larger dispensaries federal officials have said they intend to target.

Oakland residents, the ones who couldn't afford a ticket to the Fox Theater event where Obama spoke, are as interested in the nation's next steps toward economic recovery and new job opportunities as an unemployed mechanic in Cleveland.

http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Din-over-pot-misses-Oakland-s-big-issues-3729299.php

[demosincebirth]

2. If you ever had the opportunity to read his columns in the past, he has covered all of those

issues that disturb you. You may not like common sense journalism, but that's how he writes. Check him out twice a week...he may enlighten you.


I think he gets it more than you want to think

[Luminous Animal]

3. Somehow he missed the Occupy protesters, the anti-war protesters and the anti-Arctic drilling

protesters. There are some things on the Federal level that Obama can take the lead on (Wall St., oil drilling, DOJ dispensary busts). What would be the point of taking local issues to him?