Pubdate: Wed, 31 Jul 2002
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2002 The Dallas Morning News
Contact:  http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author:  Suzy Wills

BALLOT INITIATIVE

Re: "Wrong Way - Ballot initiatives generally aren't helpful," Editorials, 
July 8. Your editorial on direct democracy was more a criticism of the 
initiatives passed by referendum than of the process itself. You laud the 
referendum on police and fire department pay in Dallas, but malign the 
results of referendums in California.

Ballot initiative is not a way for citizens to usurp the authority of 
legislators. It is an attempt to make the system work when it has failed. 
Take the case of medical marijuana. For years polls have shown that more 
than 70 percent of Americans favor allowing use of cannabis in a medical 
setting. The major pharmaceutical companies are adamantly opposed. The 
pharmaceutical companies spend millions of dollars every month to avoid 
generic competition. Cannabis is the ultimate generic drug. It effectively 
treats problems as divergent as migraine headaches, nausea, glaucoma, 
spasticity and nail patella syndrome. Without prohibition, cannabis would 
be monetarily nearly worthless. The pharmaceutical industry spends more 
money on lobbying than any other industry. When it speaks, legislators listen.

Ballot initiatives for issues such as allowing medical use of cannabis are 
helpful if we want government "of the people, by the people, for the 
people" rather than government of the money, by the money, for the money.

Suzanne Wills

Drug Policy Forum of Texas, Dallas
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