I'm writing this letter to try and dispel some of falsities that are being perpetuated on us everyday by people like Tom Guthrie and others who are attempting to undermine two measures that are on the ballot in November.

They first want to try and convince all of us that all marijuana growers are evil and are putting up grows next to schools and churches, which is simply not true.

Are there some bad apples? Of course, but that is the case with anything, from retail business to politics.

But to pigeon hole everyone who grows their own medicine as evil, child-corrupting devils only shows the true ignorance and intent of the people who are outright lying to try and get their way.

The falsities are so ridiculous that I can't figure out how they keep getting put out.

One article said growers use 10 to 15 gallons of water everyday. That is the most ridiculous statement I have ever read.

I would challenge anyone to put that much water on any plant, regardless of what kind and watch what happens; the plant – any plant – will die.

Then Mr. Guthrie and others want to try and say growers are stealing water, and draining the aquifers, another outright lie.

One letter stated 12 growers used 150,000 gallons of water in four months. Besides the fact that every single one of those growers have their own wells bought and paid for by them, the usage was less than what was allowed.

Let's do some math: 150,000 divided by 12 = 12,500 per grower in four months. Now let's divide 12,500 by 4 = 3125 gallons used per month. Now one more time, 3,125 divided by 30 days in a month = 104 gallons per day. Even the places with the harshest water restrictions are allowed 400 gallons per day.

So they used their own well water and used one-quarter of what is allowed everywhere else, doesn't sound like water stealing to me, does it to you?

So in closing I would just like to point out that when people are going to such lengths to discredit something by using lies and propaganda to promote their own agenda you might want to ask yourselves why?

Time to change the status quo. I urge all of you to actually read the measures entirely then make a educated decision based on facts not on lies and propaganda being spread by people who know nothing about growing or about community.

Jake Templeton lives in Kelseyville, Calif.