Ravalli Republic, 02 Nov 2012 – I would like to go on record as strongly disagreeing with Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman’s advice to local residents to vote "yes" on I-124, the 2012 ballot measure addressing the Montana Medical Marijuana program because, in Hoffman’s words, "This legislation translates to safer communities, a true benefit to all." Hoffman’s logic is lacking in many ways. If, in fact, there have been fewer thefts, burglaries, serious assaults and homicides (have there been any homicides ever?) involving the marijuana "industry" in Ravalli County in the past 15 months since parts of Senate Bill 423 have been enacted, it’s only because there isn’t much of an industry left! Specifically, we have put all the legitimate providers out of business leaving the market wide open to the Mexican cartels, the black market and gangs.