My
opinion on marijuana article
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
I don’t think foreigners prefer to grow marijuana
in Costa Rica instead of their own countries. I
think foreigners who live here, just like Ticos,
like to grow it here for their own use. There is a
simple solution to this “problem.”
Legalize it like is finally beginning to happen in
the USA and other countries around the world, and
then there will be no “problem.”
And taxes can be collected on its purchase. (Maybe
you can use those to fix some of the many bad
roads here.) If it is legal no one will be trying
to buy it on the black market, thus no crime
If its legal no one will be breaking into
someone’s house to steal it.
If its legal the police can pay attention to real
crimes instead, such as gringos (and Ticos) having
their homes broken into and robbed by burglars.
It is simply ridiculous to continue to prosecute
smoking or growing marijuana in this day and age
when so many studies are showing it helps with
inflammation (which is a major cause of disease
and pain) and other health problems.
I don’t smoke nor grow marijuana but I believe it
should be legal to do so, and that the Costa Rican
government is wasting their time and resources on
something that shouldn’t even be of concern to
anyone.
Over the last few years many studies have been
done showing that marijuana is less harmful than
cigarettes and alcohol, and that it in fact helps
people with many health issues. So really, the
question should be Why is it still illegal in this
progressive country?
Sincerely,
John Patrickson,
Alajuela
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Air
Traffic
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
As a former Canadian Air Traffic Controller, I can
state that delaying flights will not present any
increased compromised safety issues, as the delay
can only increase separation between aircraft,
increasing safety, if anything.
The delay would only be an inconvenience for
over-all airline efficiency and the inconvenience
factor to the traveler.
Regards,
Rick Philps,
San Jose
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Are traffic controllers and radar
controllers
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
I was flying for Eastern Airlines when the air
traffic controllers were on strike for the same
reasons, and our brilliant president, fired them
all. We were up to two hours getting off the
ground because of it.
I recommend that the FAA of Costa Rica prevent
that from happening. If you can spend all that
money on the terminals, you should be more
interested in Flight Safety! You should think of
need before greed!
Carlos W Edwards,
US Expat
Naranjo, Alajuela
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Rip
Tides
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
Rip tides are created when the conformation of the
sand on the bottom is altered due to tidal and
current changes.
They are dynamic, not static.
And they are difficult for the untrained observer
to spot. Accordingly, while it would be well to
warn the public generally about rip tides, to try
to actually point them out would be impossible
since rip tides can change from hour to hour.
It would be better to warn the public of the
possible existence of rip tides and to inform them
how to react to save themselves if caught up in
one.
David C. Murray,
Grecia, Alajuela
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The views or opinions expressed by the authors are the sole and exclusive responsibility of the senders and do not necessarily represent the opinion of A.M. Costa Rica. Therefore, the newspaper does not accept liability for the reader's opinion letter content.
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Cops
and bribes in Costa Rica
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
Good afternoon to the guys and gals at AM Costa
Rica. The other day I read an article about the
police and bribes here in Costa Rica
I have lived here now for 11 almost 12 years and
we had Ducati motorcycles, three big hot red motos
so so darn cool. I had a monster 640. Orlando had
a monster 640. My husband had a Multistrata 1000.
Off we would go on our adventures to explore the
coast the beaches etc, and this is the TRUTH.
I can have Orlando verify all of it. Each and
every time we were on one of our rides to the
beaches or small towns, each and every time .. we
were stopped ... we would ask do you want to see
our license or ownership .. our insurance etc.
No no .. they would answer and just smile at us ..
and say .. nice bikes .. nice very nice then .. oh
oh .. now I get it .. money ...
Money. We would hand them 20 dollars, 10 000
colones and off we would go, not a problem but yet
a problem. In fact if they were not fast enough to
stop us they would radio ahead to their buddies to
stop us further up the highway and of course in a
car was not any different. Stopped and paid money.
One day we were going really fast on our bikes on
a nice piece of highway without potholes so we
crank up the speed ..
Suddenly they were there with the speed gun oh oh
big ticket. But not for the Ducati riders just the
famous 20 dollars again.
My gringo friends were stopped, same thing. Cash.
No seat belt – cash. Too fast – cash.
Now this is a true story. My friend has a police
man who he has known for years and years in the
small town of Atenas. One day we see the cop on
the highway (we are coming back from the city). My
friend stops to say hi to the police man and asks
him ‘why are you working on the weekend?’ Ready
for this one? He answers , ‘My wife wants a
purebred dog that costs a lot of money so I am
working the weekend and stopping only the gringos
for cash.’ This is true and goes on all the time.
The gringos are the targets here in Costa Rica
maybe the Ticos now and then, but I can say for
sure not as often as us in the gringo gang. Such
is life in Costa Rica so I am sure there are other
gringos with stories more wild or more upsetting,
but we are out there paying the dollars.
They say to us, ‘you want to pay the 200 dollars
ticket or give me 100 dollars cash right now and
go on your way with no problems?’ Hey 100 cash and
off we go anyone would do that to save a 100
dollars or would you say ‘no no give me the
ticket’ hmmmm ??????
So there is my story ...
Peace !
Brenda McNarland,
Atenas
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U.S.
military activity in CR
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
The U.S. war on drugs is a complete ruse to
maintain a military presence in Latin America. It
has "donated" billions upon billions of dollars
& equipment with zero reduction of drug abuse
while fomenting strife in the countries it
"helps."
Due to its long history of meddling in Latin
American affairs the U.S. has only one ally below
its southern border: Costa Rica.
Now it is slowly but surely growing its military
presence here in the guise of increasing our
security while in reality it just wants to be
closer to Nicaragua & Venezuela in order to
once again effect regime change for its own
benefit with little to no regard for the citizens
of these countries.
Let's not forget how the U.S. illegally entered
Costa Rica during the Iran Contra fiasco. If it
happened then...
Lou W.
Grecia, Alajuela
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Number of guns
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
Number of guns per person: One gun? That is not
the business of the government to limit my access
to just one gun or even three.
As stated in AMCostarica, the majority of crimes
are from unregistered guns. Restricting legal
ownership will not deter criminals.
I have a small gun for carry (yes I have a
permit), one gun for the practice range and one
gun for home protection.
Thankfully I have never used any to protect
myself.
Rod Strange,
Cobano, Puntarenas
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