Pubdate: Sat, 05 Apr 2003
Source: Frederick News Post (MD)
Copyright: 2003 Great Southern Printing and Manufacturing Company
Contact: 
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/contact/contactfinalnew.cfm?contact=letters
Website: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/814
Author: JOHN C. HAGERHORST

MARIJUANA 'PROBLEM' WAS CREATED TOTALLY BY OUR GOVERNMENT

Your editorial, "Reservations about medical marijuana" (March 29), seems to 
show a lack of both knowledge and understanding of our marijuana 
"situation." The illegality of the substance is the only part that is truly 
harmful.

It was legal in our country from colonial times to the moment when our 
government realized it had a large national police force that was being put 
out of work during the depression because our misguided attempt to stop the 
use of alcohol had failed.

At that time the government demonized a drug that was being used primarily 
by ladies at their afternoon card parties as a tincture obtained from their 
pharmacy and mixed into their tea so that our national police force (of 
Eliot Ness fame) would have work. That national police force could now 
better be used fighting terrorism.

The only problem with legalization is that the capitalists will get us 
using as much as possible for their profit, but that can be controlled by 
making processing (except of course, drying) illegal.

The problem of marijuana was solely and totally created by our government. 
We have the responsibility of resolving that problem in the interests of 
our citizens, not our government.

JOHN C. HAGERHORST
McKaig
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