Journey to health

Letters | Week of Sept. 17

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(Re: “Dying to be thin,” cover story, Sept. 3.) Thanks for the thoughtful coverage of eating disorders. Dana Logan did a great job of addressing this terrible problem. So many girls and women waste years punishing their bodies rather than addressing their emotional and physical needs. And many thanks to Paige Doughty for being courageous enough to share her journey to health with the public. One day, perhaps, our culture will focus on nourishment and health both mental and physical rather than weight and appearance.

Michelle Brown/via Internet

Remembering Ellen

(Re: “Ellen Maslow, a true American,” Uncensored, Sept. 3.) I never met Ellen Maslow, but was sad to learn of her passing. I attended almost every Present Tense film screening, at the time not realizing how much of a role she played in setting up these events. Her life is definitely an example worth aspiring to. I think each of us could do more if we simply made the decision to act rather than waiting for problems to solve themselves.

Mary Roderick/via Internet

A fracking mess

(Re: “Natural gas politics,” news, Sept. 10.) Kudos to Boulder Weekly for running Abrahm Lustgarten’s article about fracking. It makes absolute sense to the logical mind that injecting a chemical mix into the ground and fracturing subterranean rock formations would end up contaminating ground water. But the natural gas industry wants us to believe that what they’re doing is safe, even though they want to keep the chemicals they use a secret.

I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I find it impossible to trust an industry that so strenuously opposes oversights and which stands to gain so much in profits from taking our resources. Their lack of sympathy for homeowners, who must put up with drilling next to their houses, is another aspect of the industry that speaks ill of its leaders.

I truly hope that Congress will enact some sensible controls to protect our water and to improve the rights of landowners so that their health and quality of life isn’t sacrificed for fuel.

David Richards/via Internet

Medicinal marijuana

As the medical marijuana articles continue to appear in newsprint, I think two points need to be made: one, a warning to all recreational and medical marijuana smokers: Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and State Highway Patrol have trained officers to look for not only DWI alcohol drivers, but also DUI marijuana users.

The THC chemical making up 60 percent of each MJ plant (recreational or medical marijuana) is 10 times stronger since the 1970s per the June 2009 United Nations World Health Report. THC can stay in your blood for up to 56 days. Guess what that means? If a cop thinks you’re drug-impaired or asks you to take a drug test and you test positive for marijuana (any trace amount), the current state and federal laws say that is a crime.

Remember that if you have an accident and your brain has slowed down due to marijuana use that you are on the way to court and possibly jail.

Recreational or medical marijuana is grown by unregulated medical warehouses in America, British Columbia, or in backyards that have no oversight, quality control, testing, or inspection by the FDA or any other state or U.S. government agency. So to anyone smoking, inhaling, eating brownies, etc., the THC goes to your blood and directly to your brain.

Why would our citizens use a product that has no testing or quality control and could be poisoned? There are 400 different chemicals in each MJ plant. MJ smokers are actually “rolling the dice” each time they use it. I wonder where the storeowners buy their marijuana and who guarantees its purity for you to use safely.

Buddy Sims/Vail

No more ‘sharing the road’

I think the time has come for those of us who pay for the construction and maintenance of all public thoroughfares to demand that all who use them also contribute their fair share. Since our legislature and governor (who are supposed to represent our interests) passed and designed legislation that raised our taxes (they call it license fee, but in my opinion it is a tax), to supposedly repair our roads and bridges, we need to demand that they pass legislation to spread the costs to all of those who use our thoroughfares.

I am referring to pedal pushers (foot or hand) who clog our roads and up to now have contributed $0 to the construction or maintenance of these pathways. Although you or I who wish to drive a vehicle, pull a trailer or ride a motorcycle on any federal, state, county or town roadway must have a license plate on the vehicle, plus carry registration and proof of insurance, the pedal-pusher vehicles do not.

I propose to all, contact your state representatives and senators and tell them to pass legislation regarding pedal-powered vehicles that accomplishes the following:

All these vehicles on public thoroughfares must have a license plate. Pedalpushers should be assessed fees of $50 per year for the rider vehicle, $30 per year for the attached/towed vehicles.

All riders over the age of 15 must have on their person (or attached to the vehicle) registration, proof of insurance and a photo ID.

Visitors from out of state must pay $10 for a temporary plate good for not more than 30 days and must also meet the requirements above.

The fees paid by pedal-pushers would be used exclusively for bicycle-related proj ects,

such as widening thoroughfares to add dedicated bike lanes. First priority would be to widen two-lane roads in the mountains, then other travel paths (gravel, etc.), with all projects to be outside the city limits. After all roadways used by pedal-pushers are completed, the fees could be used to create bicycle trails and the like. But all gas tax and current motor vehicle/ trailer fees would be prohibited from being used for any thoroughfares that prohibit motor vehicle use.

It’s time to stop “sharing the road” with all of those who don’t help pay for it, or to get them to pay for their use.

John Rice/Parshall