Pubdate: Wed, 25 Feb 2004 Source: Ashcroft Cache Creek Journal, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Ashcroft Cache Creek Journal Contact: http://www.ash-cache-journal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3157 Author: Scott Russ Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n288/a02.html LEGALIZE POT Editor, The Journal Why do we keep kidding ourselves into believing that anything but legalizing cannabis will stop grow ops and the gangs that run them? You want to decriminalize small quantities of cannabis and increase growing penalties? This is absurd. Were do you think the small quantities of cannabis will come from, Santa Claus? I live in the most incarcerated state in the US, we have some of the harshest sentences for cultivation and trafficking and that has done nothing to stop it. How about ending prohibition? How about allowing responsible adults to decide for themselves what they put in to their bodies as long as they harm no others? That's too easy eh. That wouldn't allow for the budget increases and job security that certain government agencies and law enforcement are after, right? All at the expense of taxpayers and society as a whole. Let's just go another 80 years and see how the drug war is doing then. If you're wondering what 80 years can do for the drug war just look at this headline from 1938. "16 INDICTED HERE IN MARIJUANA RING; New York Times Apr 30, 1938 A Federal grand jury, delivering what Lamar Hardy, United States Attorney, described as the severest blow ever dealt to traffickers in marijuana, yesterday indicted sixteen alleged members of a, marijuana producing and distributing ring that until recently operated in Minnesota, Iowa, Chicago and New York City." Hmmm. The severest blow ever to marijuana trafficking and here we are today still wondering how to stop the evil weed. Can we really afford to be throwing our tax dollars down the toilet another 80 years? Prohibition. It's worse than we all remember. Just Say KNOW!! Scott Russ Baton Rouge, Louisiana - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin