Pubdate: Fri, 18 May 2001 Source: Dallas Morning News (TX) Copyright: 2001 The Dallas Morning News Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117 Author: D. Paul Webb http://www.dallasnews.com/editorial/letters/369874_18cyberletters.html DISMAY OVER SUPREME COURT RULING As an American historian, disabled veteran, survivor of hepatitis C and former medical marijuana user, I am writing to express my dismay over the recent Supreme Court ruling ("Supreme Court rejects medical marijuana use," May 15). The original decision was based on ignorance (this simply means uneducated), racism and prejudice. The government with the aid of Harry Anslinger and J. Edgar Hoover stated that marijuana made blacks and Mexicans commit heinous crimes. The implied crime was rape. Several medical experts and government officials were on record that marijuana had nothing to do with crime or violence. As a historian, this is another example of perpetuated ignorance that remains the greatest obstacle in the 400 years struggle of America to actually provide liberty, justice and equality for all. What a concept? Justice Clarence Thomas' excuse that Congress decided the illegality is a result of the bigoted decision by Mr. Anslinger and Mr. Hoover. The alleged victims of the heinous crimes were white women and Congress used bogus information their own experts decried to determine the status of marijuana. FYI - I am predominantly Anglo, 39, and do not use marijuana any more because of the question of illegality. Someone needs to remind the justices that during this period of marijuana prohibition the government fawned over the benefits of tobacco and even when confronted with the counter evidence, did nothing for 50 years to correct their errors. Finally, any country that allows a citizen to die because of ignorance does not deserve to be on the United Nations Human Rights Commission! D. PAUL WEBB, McKinney, Texas - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom