Pubdate: Thu, 19 Feb 2004
Source: Las Vegas Mercury (NV)
Copyright: 2004 Las Vegas Mercury
Contact:  http://www.lasvegasmercury.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2595
Author: Scott Russ
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

FEAR, POLITICS FUEL WAR ON POT

If our federal government used science and logic to form our laws,
there would be no prohibition against cannabis. Instead, they use fear
and politics.

The war against marijuana users isn't about protecting our children or
society. We've lived under that pretense for the past 70 years and
what have been the results? We send people to prison for marijuana
possession and cultivation, yet past presidents, along with many other
politicians and other prominent members of society, have admitted to
using marijuana. I guess it's okay for our politicians to use
marijuana, but the rest of Americans should be demonized and
criminalized for it, right?

America better wake up soon and stop hypocritically prosecuting its
citizens for using this plant, which has never killed anyone as
alcohol and tobacco do on a daily basis. I don't want my children to
have to endure another 70 years of this disastrous and misguided witch
hunt against marijuana users that takes from education to build more
prisons. Once we quit criminalizing responsible adults for using
substances other than alcohol and tobacco, you won't have to ask
yourself what we need to do about our budget deficits and overcrowded
prisons. And no, the sky won't fall and there won't be anarchy if we
legally regulate other substances the way we do alcohol and tobacco.
But there will be more tax dollars and law enforcement personnel
available to do what they were intended to do: protect and serve, not
run around tearing up marijuana plants.

Scott Russ,

Baton Rouge, La.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake