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Opinion
As a physician, I have dedicated my career to helping people live healthier lives. Many factors contribute to health – diet, exercise, heredity, stress levels, environment and more.
Throughout my decades of practice, people have sought quick, easy remedies to feel better. While modern medicine offers some amazing cures, we still haven’t found the perfect cure for everything.
With the legalization of recreational marijuana going into effect this month, I see people turning to cannabis as a miracle cure for everything and this concerns me.
While there are legitimate uses for cannabis, it is not a cure-all.
Cannabis can help reduce pain and nausea, and it’s proven especially effective for some patients undergoing chemotherapy or receiving palliative treatment for terminal illnesses.
However, marijuana is not the wonder drug some people would have you believe.
There is a sense that because cannabis is a plant, because it is natural and not derived in a lab, that it must be healthy. Not so! Nature creates some potent toxins, and man has modified these plants to make their effects even stronger.
Unlike alcohol, which does not contain any chemicals produced by our brains, cannabis contains THC, a chemical that mirrors a naturally occurring substance in the brain. This allows THC to alter brain activity profoundly.
This effect on the brain is what leads to a decrease in productivity and ambition. Used sparingly as a distraction by adults, cannabis does not appear to do long-term damage. Used regularly by adolescents or pregnant women, the effects can be disastrous and irreversible.
Unfortunately, recent studies have shown that the use of marijuana among pregnant women is increasing. In California, among pregnant women 24 years of age and younger, the rate of marijuana usage is about 14 percent. Among pregnant women of all ages, marijuana usage is about 7 percent.
My concern is that legalizing marijuana makes people believe it is safe when it isn’t. I have other concerns about the effects of marijuana on our community – the increased violence and crime, the pollution of our forests and streams, and the hard feelings between neighbors. But my biggest concern is for the welfare of our children, including the unborn.
If you choose to use marijuana, please protect your children from the negative effects of this drug. The brain only develops once. If that development is impeded by cannabis, there is no fixing it.
Dale Morrison retired from Ukiah Valley Medical Center (now called Adventist Health Ukiah Valley) in Ukiah, Calif., where he served as a cardiologist and chief of staff.
Throughout my decades of practice, people have sought quick, easy remedies to feel better. While modern medicine offers some amazing cures, we still haven’t found the perfect cure for everything.
With the legalization of recreational marijuana going into effect this month, I see people turning to cannabis as a miracle cure for everything and this concerns me.
While there are legitimate uses for cannabis, it is not a cure-all.
Cannabis can help reduce pain and nausea, and it’s proven especially effective for some patients undergoing chemotherapy or receiving palliative treatment for terminal illnesses.
However, marijuana is not the wonder drug some people would have you believe.
There is a sense that because cannabis is a plant, because it is natural and not derived in a lab, that it must be healthy. Not so! Nature creates some potent toxins, and man has modified these plants to make their effects even stronger.
Unlike alcohol, which does not contain any chemicals produced by our brains, cannabis contains THC, a chemical that mirrors a naturally occurring substance in the brain. This allows THC to alter brain activity profoundly.
This effect on the brain is what leads to a decrease in productivity and ambition. Used sparingly as a distraction by adults, cannabis does not appear to do long-term damage. Used regularly by adolescents or pregnant women, the effects can be disastrous and irreversible.
Unfortunately, recent studies have shown that the use of marijuana among pregnant women is increasing. In California, among pregnant women 24 years of age and younger, the rate of marijuana usage is about 14 percent. Among pregnant women of all ages, marijuana usage is about 7 percent.
My concern is that legalizing marijuana makes people believe it is safe when it isn’t. I have other concerns about the effects of marijuana on our community – the increased violence and crime, the pollution of our forests and streams, and the hard feelings between neighbors. But my biggest concern is for the welfare of our children, including the unborn.
If you choose to use marijuana, please protect your children from the negative effects of this drug. The brain only develops once. If that development is impeded by cannabis, there is no fixing it.
Dale Morrison retired from Ukiah Valley Medical Center (now called Adventist Health Ukiah Valley) in Ukiah, Calif., where he served as a cardiologist and chief of staff.
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- Written by: Dr. Dale Morrison
Thank you for printing the information on the avian cholera and the die-off of the ducks on our lake. My husband and I were just two of many volunteers that picked up the dead waterfowl/gulls/crows in the past. We know how quickly this disease spreads and how important it is that we continue to pick the the birds from the shoreline "daily" and dispose of them properly.
I was disappointed to read that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife people were now just "monitoring" the situation. Does that mean just one person walks all the shorelines and looks for the dead birds? Do they not know that this disease doesn't disappear in just a few weeks? We have thousands of waterfowl on our lake right now.
When I read your article on the die-off, I sent an email to Dr. Susan Cannon (Wasson Memorial Vet.) who runs the Wildlife Rescue Center for our county. We offered to assist in picking up the dead waterfowl for as long as she needed us.
To my amazement, Dr. Cannon replied she was not aware of any duck die-off and had not seen it in the news. I sent her the link to your article and she said she was surprised that Fish and Wildlife hadn't contacted her or anyone in her vet's office.
My biggest worry is that people might unknowingly pick up the infected ducks or birds and bring them into veterinary offices where the avian cholera could be spread by curious people in the waiting room that want to see the bird. If Dr. Cannon wasn't advised, did other vets know about the outbreak?
I should think California Dept. of Fish and Game would care enough to do everything possible to get the word out to everyone and to continue to quickly pick up all of the dead ducks/birds.
There were many volunteers that put in lots of hours to assist in the past. All they had to do was ask. Shame on them.
Vicki Miller lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
I was disappointed to read that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife people were now just "monitoring" the situation. Does that mean just one person walks all the shorelines and looks for the dead birds? Do they not know that this disease doesn't disappear in just a few weeks? We have thousands of waterfowl on our lake right now.
When I read your article on the die-off, I sent an email to Dr. Susan Cannon (Wasson Memorial Vet.) who runs the Wildlife Rescue Center for our county. We offered to assist in picking up the dead waterfowl for as long as she needed us.
To my amazement, Dr. Cannon replied she was not aware of any duck die-off and had not seen it in the news. I sent her the link to your article and she said she was surprised that Fish and Wildlife hadn't contacted her or anyone in her vet's office.
My biggest worry is that people might unknowingly pick up the infected ducks or birds and bring them into veterinary offices where the avian cholera could be spread by curious people in the waiting room that want to see the bird. If Dr. Cannon wasn't advised, did other vets know about the outbreak?
I should think California Dept. of Fish and Game would care enough to do everything possible to get the word out to everyone and to continue to quickly pick up all of the dead ducks/birds.
There were many volunteers that put in lots of hours to assist in the past. All they had to do was ask. Shame on them.
Vicki Miller lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
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- Written by: Vicki Miller
I attended the Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 12. The agenda included a discussion item on the Harbin Hot Springs rebuild effort. The following is my brief takeaway of the meeting and a personal snippet of my Harbin experience.
I moved to Harbin in 2000, and I am currently working there part-time. Prior to the Valley fire, I was employed as a cook in the restaurant. I held a few temporary jobs as well, but the restaurant was always my ”bread and butter.”
Over the course of those 15 years, by my estimation, I prepared upwards of 8,000 omelets of one type or another. It’s true. In hindsight, I suppose I was destined to be a breakfast cook given that my mom’s name is Over Easy and my dad’s is Over Hard: but a grain of truth.
Beyond the economic ties, I also found a home at Harbin.
Prior to moving to the area, I had lived a rootless existence. As an adult, I had bounced around the country, and the world (including four years in Germany), never living in the same community for more than two years. By age 40, finding a place to land represented a personal milestone or turning point.
Sept. 12, 2015, was a game changer for me and many others in south Lake County. I lost most of my possessions, my home and my Harbin community to fire. I decided to stay, but many others opted to relocate and start over.
The Harbin rebuild and successful reopening reman a county priority. This was clearly communicated by the supervisors during last month’s meeting.
In my opinion, having this discussion was both necessary and proved to be productive. A number of challenging issues were identified during the meeting:
– a complex mix of prevailing state regulations, county ordinances and Middletown Area Plan guidelines;
– diverging opinions in the interpretation and application of some of those parameters; and
– in small measure, the growing pains of building or establishing new professional working relationships.
The Harbin rebuild is a multi-phased project with many moving parts. Many have dedicated long hours to push this project forward.
My hope is that everyone who was present in that chamber will work together, and to paraphrase, “make Harbin great again.”
Mike Tabacchi lives in Middletown, Calif.
I moved to Harbin in 2000, and I am currently working there part-time. Prior to the Valley fire, I was employed as a cook in the restaurant. I held a few temporary jobs as well, but the restaurant was always my ”bread and butter.”
Over the course of those 15 years, by my estimation, I prepared upwards of 8,000 omelets of one type or another. It’s true. In hindsight, I suppose I was destined to be a breakfast cook given that my mom’s name is Over Easy and my dad’s is Over Hard: but a grain of truth.
Beyond the economic ties, I also found a home at Harbin.
Prior to moving to the area, I had lived a rootless existence. As an adult, I had bounced around the country, and the world (including four years in Germany), never living in the same community for more than two years. By age 40, finding a place to land represented a personal milestone or turning point.
Sept. 12, 2015, was a game changer for me and many others in south Lake County. I lost most of my possessions, my home and my Harbin community to fire. I decided to stay, but many others opted to relocate and start over.
The Harbin rebuild and successful reopening reman a county priority. This was clearly communicated by the supervisors during last month’s meeting.
In my opinion, having this discussion was both necessary and proved to be productive. A number of challenging issues were identified during the meeting:
– a complex mix of prevailing state regulations, county ordinances and Middletown Area Plan guidelines;
– diverging opinions in the interpretation and application of some of those parameters; and
– in small measure, the growing pains of building or establishing new professional working relationships.
The Harbin rebuild is a multi-phased project with many moving parts. Many have dedicated long hours to push this project forward.
My hope is that everyone who was present in that chamber will work together, and to paraphrase, “make Harbin great again.”
Mike Tabacchi lives in Middletown, Calif.
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- Written by: Mike Tabacchi
Kelseyville's Christmas in the Country this year was an amazing success.
The Kelseyville Business Association covered all the costs for the event. Thank you!
Thanks to all the people that helped with the town decorations, setting up the day of the event and cleanup, the parade participants, all of the merchants and churches, and especially the community that comes out to enjoy a simple old-fashioned Christmas in the country, with merchants opening their doors for all sorts of free goodies, wagon rides and a beautiful parade of lights. To see all the smiling faces and childrens twinkling eyes brings so much joy to us all.
I want to thank many individuals for sharing their time and talents: Mike and Kim Riley, the couple I can count on to always be there to help; Dave Morse, always right in there helping: and I hope I don't forget anyone, Sue Dodd, Cooper Dodd, Rick White, Trena Pauly, Nick Buttitta, Debbie Gerace, Eric VonOrden, Ross Mason, Helen Finch, Marilyn Holdenried, Rob Brown, Caroline Chavez, Brian Fischer, Rafael Perez, Mike Lorrenzini, Brenda Young, Westamerica Bank, Studebakers Coffee House, Kelseyville Lions Club and Kelseyville Lumber.
Thanks to all the merchants who decorated their stores and windows so beautifully, the churches that opened their hearts and doors, the parade entries this year were so colorful and fun, thanks for all your effort to make our parade so festive.
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, we are so thankful for all of the wonderful people and all of the blessings we have in our lives.
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas.
Mary Morse owns Kelseyville Appliance and is an organizer of Christmas in the Country in Kelseyville, Calif.
The Kelseyville Business Association covered all the costs for the event. Thank you!
Thanks to all the people that helped with the town decorations, setting up the day of the event and cleanup, the parade participants, all of the merchants and churches, and especially the community that comes out to enjoy a simple old-fashioned Christmas in the country, with merchants opening their doors for all sorts of free goodies, wagon rides and a beautiful parade of lights. To see all the smiling faces and childrens twinkling eyes brings so much joy to us all.
I want to thank many individuals for sharing their time and talents: Mike and Kim Riley, the couple I can count on to always be there to help; Dave Morse, always right in there helping: and I hope I don't forget anyone, Sue Dodd, Cooper Dodd, Rick White, Trena Pauly, Nick Buttitta, Debbie Gerace, Eric VonOrden, Ross Mason, Helen Finch, Marilyn Holdenried, Rob Brown, Caroline Chavez, Brian Fischer, Rafael Perez, Mike Lorrenzini, Brenda Young, Westamerica Bank, Studebakers Coffee House, Kelseyville Lions Club and Kelseyville Lumber.
Thanks to all the merchants who decorated their stores and windows so beautifully, the churches that opened their hearts and doors, the parade entries this year were so colorful and fun, thanks for all your effort to make our parade so festive.
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, we are so thankful for all of the wonderful people and all of the blessings we have in our lives.
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas.
Mary Morse owns Kelseyville Appliance and is an organizer of Christmas in the Country in Kelseyville, Calif.
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- Written by: Mary Morse