What a laugh this organization (PCC) is. I"m not surprised the majority of their membership is against medical marijuana, but you know what? Who cares! This group does nothing but care about themselves. But really, how in the heck is a facility in the industrial park going to see affect the quality of life for our students and Portsmouth residents? Do they (PCC) think the kids are going to be hanging around the building trying to get a nickle bag. This facility will be well regulated and unless you are a medical marijuana user you won't even realize it is there. Seriously, if these people had their way we'd all be living in Mayberry. Wake up PCC. It's 2012. Times have changed.

I find the quote " quality of life for Portsmouth residents and students" a joke from this group. That has been the last thing they have been concerned about!!!! Watchful Eye is right, all they care about is themselves!!!!

I like how they (PCC) say, does it "enhance the quality of life in Portsmouth for citizens and students?" Since when do they care about the students in this Town. They are the ones who want to constantly cut the school's budget.

"By an overwhelming margin..."

Exactly what is an overwhelming margin at a PCC meeting, 4-1? Mr. Fitzmorris and his band of merry men can't number more than 20. It's truly sad that this small but vocal group can influence town politics so much. Wake up everyone, the PCC is the anti-Robin Hood, all they care about is keeping the middle class reeling so the rich can get richer.

James, they number a lot more than you think. While I do not support the PCC, people in this town need to start taking them seriously as they are arguably the most well organized political establishment in Portsmouth.

I agree with Rhody that we need to take the PCC seriously. They are a very vocal and dangerous politically active group in Portsmouth. Unfortunately only around one third of the residents of Portsmouth eligible to vote actually vote in elections and referendum questions. The PCC does a good job of mobilizing their followers to turn out and vote for things that jeopoardize the quality of education and extracurricular activities for our youth. The PCC's main concern is keeping their tax rate as low as possible regardless of the affect on the community. It's time the majority of Portsmouth residents get organized and turn out to vote to keep Portsmouth a viable place to raise a family!

I agree wholeheartedly to Portsmouth Advocate's words. But how do we get that to happen?

I guess theyed rather the kids have a steadily growing opiate addiction that goes on right under their noses. (No pun intended) Misused prescription narcotics is a big problem in Portsmouth and marijuana is the only alternative to pain killers that has no negative side effect and is not physically addictive.

Think about the PCC for 1 second. Look at their core group and followers... just count how many of them are sitting back collecting big fat government pensions. You will find a vast majority of them are! They have nothing better to do with their retired time so they just make for more controversy. Larry Fitzmoris for example, Isn't he collecting a nice government pension and doesn't his wife work for a school department? Hmmmmm... Kathy Melvon and the PCC is opposed to marijuana facility?. Oh yeah, we're gonna have drug dealers hanging around the door steps of the place right? Give me a break. Sometimes I think they just pull this crap just for publicity.

The PCC ruined this town by dividing it's residents with the tent meeting years ago and has never recovered. Then the residents went ahead and voted in a PCC coucil. It's time that people went to the polls this year and took matters into their own hands. I am not saying vote for one particular party all I am saying is that if any of them are connected to the PCC we need to "VOTE THEM OUT"!

Oh, the irony! One of the reasons offered by the PCC for opposing medical marijuana is a need for the states to respect the supremacy of federal law. ("Members supported the U.S. attorney in his efforts to insure that the U.S. federal law is adherred to.") Who would have thought that the PCC was for a strong central government?

Janice g
I agree with the comments about the PCC being a strong backward looking strong entity in our town.

As a former RN I wold like to comment about the Compassion Center regarding health matters. Intractable pain is something no one wants to experience. This condition can effect any of us including the PCC members in the future. If things continue as they are, Portsmouth citizens would have to go to our teenagers to find a source of marijuana. That would be wrong on so many levels.

The three compassion Centers had to go thru 2 applications by the state as it is, because the state felt the 1st application wasn't stringent enough. These applications dealt with quality, professional staff, site for area situated in state, safety for abutters and general population. Let's remember that KODAC is in a populated area in Newport and they dispense methadone with no issues.

Portsmouth could provide relief to the population in this area of the state and provide tax revenue in the form of property, the nursery growers and the buyers.

Lets be forward looking about our aging population and the prestige of such having such a site in our town to counter the impression that we say nay to any valuable proposals that come to our doorstep.