Columbia Missourian FRIDAY & SATURDAY, March 12-13, 2010 — Page 5A

Write.
Reflect.
Respond.

TODAY’S QUESTION
Do you think the flashing yellow left-hand turn
arrows make the road safer or more dangerous? Are
drivers prepared to respond to this change in the
rules of the road?

O
n Tuesday, the Missouri Department of Transportation made
significant changes to seven intersections on Stadium Boule-
vard from Maryland Avenue to U.S. 63 Interchange. At these
locations, the green light, which signaled drivers in the left
hand turn lane to yield when entering the intersection, was replaced
with a flashing yellow arrow.
The flashing yellow arrow indicates to drivers that they may cau-
tiously make a left turn after assessing oncoming traffic and pedestri-
ans.
This change was intended to improve safety at the intersections.
These arrows have already been in use in cities across the nation
including St. Louis and Kansas City.
— Kourtney Geers
Tell us what you think
E-mail your comments to letters@ColumbiaMissourian.com
Or mail them to: Idea of the Day, P.O. Box 917, Columbia, MO 65205

Rethink outdated pot

laws to regulate K2
K
2. For my older ears, that
is either a mountain on the
Pakistan/China boarder
or an American ski and
Caution is the word.
I am not an advocate of the legal-
ization of marijuana for recreational
use, but for a different reason than

News about school board

snowboard manufacturing company.
Now K2 is also a “spice cannabi-
noid,” JWH-018.
What is JWH-018? United States
Department of Justice says that
our “thoughtful” government’s anti-
marijuana stance. The American
Association of Family Physicians
reports that, “Marijuana smoke
does … have a significantly higher

candidates, so you know

they are “synthetic cannabinoid tar content than cigarettes, contains
agonist without the classical can- many carcinogens.” Therein is my
nabinoid chemi- objection to the legalization of can-
cal structure … nabis. However…
herbal mixture Kathy, my life partner and a

which may be
smoked for its
psychoactive
effects.” Simply,
a fabricated
replacement for
marijuana.
Wes Upchurch,
former Libertar-
David ian candidate for
Missouri Sec-
Rosman retary of State
whose campaign
I worked for in
2008, is an advocate for the legaliza-
tion of cannabis. He takes the Lib-
ertarian approach to the use of rec-
reational drugs: If someone is using
this in their home and not hurting or
endangering anyone else, please do
not bother them. Upchurch believes
that marijuana and JWH-018 fall
into the same category as alcohol,
nicotine and caffeine, a mild non-
addictive stimulant or depressant
for recreational and social use. Like
my Jack Daniels.
According to Upchurch, K2, which
is a brand name along with Pandora
Potpourri, Spice and Kind, among
others, is manufactured by spraying
herbs with a synthetic cannabinoid
and dried before packaging. JWH-
018 is one of the cannabinoids.
The JWH-018 mixture requires
either alcohol or acetone. The alcohol
and acetone will evaporate, but pos-
sible residues may cause problems.
Point 1: If you are going to buy
this stuff, choose the active JWH-
018 is alcohol processed.
Spice is not to be smoked or drank.
After reading labels on K2, Spice
and Pandora packaging, I found
the warnings clear, “Not for human
consumption.” It is used as any other
potpourri or incense — put in a burn-
er and light. Your home will smell
fresh and you will be mellow.
We do not know the potential
medical use of JWH-018. The Royal
Society of Chemistry says, “little is
known about the effect on humans,
as not even pre-clinical studies
have been (completed) to determine
potential toxicity…” There have
been no or few human trials.
Point 2: There is very little
research on the effects of JWH-018.
General Manager Executive Editor
Daniel S. Potter Tom Warhover
potterds@ warhovert@
missouri.edu missouri.edu
Wound Care Certified LPN, and I
have had long conversations con-
cerning the medical use of mari-
juana. From our discussions and
speaking to those who have used
the “herb” for pain relief and to
stimulate hunger, I now believe that
the positives outweigh the negatives
for medical usage. The pill form of
THC, the active ingredient in mari-
juana, does not work as well. If a
person is dying or being treated for
cancer, why not allow them to ease
the pain with a few puffs of a joint?
State Sen. Kurt Schaefer will
sponsor the senate version of HB
1472, “making spice cannabinoids,
commonly known as ‘spice’ or ‘K2,’
Schedule I controlled substances.”
That makes Spice more dangerous
than marijuana. This is the wrong
stance.
Section 195.017(1) RSMo defines
a Schedule I drug as having a
“high potential for abuse,” and no
known medical use. I cannot locate
research that supports JWH-018
meeting this criterion. My two fin-
gers of Jack has a high potential for
abuse and has no known medical
use. Schedule I?
With budget deficits looming and
the war on drugs all but lost, maybe
we should rethink our position on
“soft drugs.” Regulate the sale of
marijuana and JWH-018 products
as we now regulate alcohol and
tobacco, and tax retail sales. Create
hefty fines and jail terms for those
found guilty of distributing these
products to children or operating a
vehicle under the influence. Rid the
courts of nuisance hearings. Save
Money. Make Money. Win-Win.
Mr. Schaefer, I strongly suggest
that you find out what JWH-018
is and does before condemnation.
Rethink the outdated marijuana
laws as they concern medical usage.
Be smart, not party correct.
Then we could use the slippery
slope arguments concerning K2 to
ride our K2s down K2.
David Rosman is a award winning
editor, writer, professional speaker and
college instructor in Communications,
Ethics, Business and Politics. You can
read more of David’s commentaries at
InkandVoice.com. He welcomes your
comments at dave@inkandvoice.com.
Managing Editor Opinion Editor
Jeanne Abbott Jake Sherlock
abbottjm@ sherlockj@
missouri.edu missouri.edu
I
’ve mentioned before that
one of the valuable func-
tions journalists perform
for a generally ungrateful
public is that we go places
you don’t want to go and
pay attention to dull but important
issues so you don’t have to.
In that spirit, I’ve attended a couple
of forums for Columbia School Board
candidates in the past week. (Actu-
ally, I have no cause to whine. The
Muleskinners, hosts of one forum,
are a pretty congenial bunch, at least
for Democrats. And the League of
Women Voters even served refresh-
ments Wednesday night.)
I made a few notes on your behalf:
n First, it’s an unusual election,
with only five candidates running
for three seats. Two positions are
full three-year terms. The other
is a one-year term created by the
resignation of a board member last
year. Given our community’s focus
on education and the financial prob-
lems confronting the schools, I’d
have expected more aspirants. Last
year, we had nine hopefuls for two
seats. None of this year’s five has
talked much so far about the most
important ballot issue, the biggest
bond issue in our history. Jan Mees
did write a pro-bond piece the Mis-
sourian published in print Thursday.
n Second, it’s too bad we can’t
vote for both the candidates who are
seeking the one-year position.
Phil Peters has been the most
impressive of all the candidates. An
MU law professor, he’s just com-
ing off a two-year stint running a
program that works to improve the
readiness of pre-schoolers in pover-
ty. His resume is full of other civic
leadership.
Jonathan Sessions, his opponent,
Guidelines for election letters
The Missourian will publish letters and
guest columns about the April 6 elec-
tions for City Council, the Columbia
School Board and city ballot measures
at no charge.
Letters must be received by April 1.
The last day for letters to appear in
print is April 4. The last day for letters
to appear at ColumbiaMissourian.com
is April 5.
DOONESBURY by GaRry Trudeau
GEORGE
KENNEDY
It’s too bad we can’t vote
for both the candidates who
are seeking the one-year
position.
is young – by about 40 years the
youngest of the candidates – but full
of enthusiasm and already deeply
engaged in the community and the
schools.
n The two incumbents strike me
as awfully nice, well-intentioned
public servants. Neither seems to
have quite the passion of Mr. Peters
or Mr. Sessions. Perhaps that’s a
function of experience.
Jan Mees, the current board presi-
dent, emphasizes her years of expe-
rience as a volunteer and school
librarian. She stresses that she and
her board colleagues have learned
and changed a lot in the past three
years. Like all the candidates,
she talks about the importance
of skilled, well-paid teachers; but
like all the candidates, she doesn’t
explain how we’ll increase their pay.
Jim Whitt, a retiree from General
Electric, occupies what has come to
be the African-American seat on the
board. He was appointed last year
when ill health forced Rose Tippin
to resign. She, in turn, had succeed-
ed David Ballenger. Mr. Whitt has a
All letters will run online at Columbi-
aMissourian.com. Every effort will be
made to publish them in the print Mis-
sourian by April 4.
Anonymous letters will not be accept-
ed. Please include a daytime telephone
number and address with your letter
for verification purposes. We will not
publish your address or phone number,
but we will publish a general descrip-
tion of where each writer resides.
five-point program that puts at the
top raising achievement and closing
the gap between minority and white
students. The other candidates
agree that’s important, but none has
said just how we might do that.
n The non-incumbent running for
a three-year term is Dan Holt, mak-
ing his second try for the board. Mr.
Holt, an unemployed banker, seems
to rely a lot on his wife’s experience
as a 25-year teacher in the Columbia
schools. He says he’d insist on the
“basics,” without specifying what
that means. He also, in a response
that worried me, said he thinks crit-
ics of the bond issue have “a valid
point.”
n The visible and vocal spokesper-
son for those critics, whose slogan
is “It’s Okay to Vote No,” is Robin
Hubbard. She describes herself as
the “loyal opposition.” She opposes
mainly the planned new high school,
which she characterizes as a “big
box” built in the middle of nowhere.
Her preferred alternative would be
a set of smaller “learning centers”
scattered through the central city.
I thought Superintendent Chris
Belcher had much the better of their
polite argument at the League ses-
sion. For $120 million – and no tax
increase – we’d get a third compre-
hensive high school, another ele-
mentary school, fewer transitions,
fewer trailers and smaller classes
for students and much-needed
upgrades at existing buildings. To
me, that looks like a really good
deal.
That’s my report. No need to
thank me.
George Kennedy is a former managing
editor at the Missourian and professor
emeritus at the Missouri School of
Journalism.
Letters generally run around 400-500
words. Longer pieces will be consid-
ered for guest columns.
MAIL: Letter to Editor, P.O. Box 917,
Columbia, MO 65205
E-MAIL: letters@ColumbiaMissourian.
com
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WRITE: Letter to Editor, P.O. Box 917, Columbia, MO 65205
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