Times-Standard, 08 Oct 2010 – If you are like me, you are one of thousands of commercial medical marijuana growers in Northern California, and you, like me, are concerned about what Prop. 19, the "tax and control" initiative will do to our economy. You have thrived in a community that supports and even depends on the (variably legal) medical marijuana commerce. If you are like me, when you first heard about the initiative, your first desire was to vote against it. You have exhausted hours discoursing with friends, acquaintances, and probably even strangers about how this will hinder our community and its economy. You, like me, are scared of change and the end of our day in the sun. One thing I’ve noticed, though, when talking about legalization with friends, associates, etc., is that the general consensus seems to be, "Well, I’m just going to wait, play it safe, and see how it all plays out." But with November rolling ever closer, polls are continuously gaining support for Prop. 19, and rumors are buzzing like honeybees. I’m sure you’ve heard the ones about indoor warehouses in Oakland that are supposed to produce 120 pounds per day once their cycles get going. You’ve heard about Phillip-Morris weasels buying up land in the mountains/farm regions of Northern California. The threat of legal loopholes and corporate commercialization will swallow up our small private farms (now considered full-scale, commercial grow-ops), and our way of life will come to an end.