Alcohol Versus Pot  Thursday, May 6, 2010  Regarding the
Marijuana dispensary issue: I am interested in how many
businesses sell alcohol and cigarettes in Santa Barbara, and
their proximity to the community, schools, and dependency
treatment centers. Has “attention been paid to location” for
alcohol and cigarette distribution or availability?  In my
youth, cigarettes and alcohol were the “gateway” drugs. I have
lost family and friends to alcoholism. Over my 50 years, none of
my friends who smoke marijuana on a regular basis have ever been
abusive or out of control.  Marijuana was a god-send to my
brother, whom I lost to the AIDS virus. It gave him and others
like him the ability to eat, and hold food down. Many people in
chronic pain, who are riddled with cancer, who have MS, PTSD,
etc. have benefited from this weed.  Others use marijuana for
relaxation, recreation. Just like alcoholic cocktails.  I think
that it would be appropriate to regulate the sale of alcohol—the
number of “shops” per square mile, or wh