Pubdate: Mon, 05 Apr 2004 Source: Winston-Salem Journal (NC) Copyright: 2004 Piedmont Publishing Co. Inc. Contact: http://www.journalnow.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/504 Note: The Journal does not publish letters from writers outside its daily home delivery circulation area. Author: Clifton Ingram Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?1043 (Christianity) IN PRAISE OF MARIJUANA This letter is in response to all four front-page articles published on March 19. The underlying themes of "'New' New Deal" and "Freedom of speech, Freedom of choice" are also relevant. What if there were a solution to the school board's lack of education funds, our state's tobacco woes, our dependence on foreign oil and also our extinction of birds? What if the solution could boost the textile industry, protect our forests, aerate our soil and offer pain relief? What if the solution actually could derail globalization by giving the power and wealth back to the people? As a food it is the most easily digestible protein; add water it triples in size and nutritional value; add dirt and it can grow 10 to 20 feet tall in one growing season almost anywhere. The fatty acid content makes it a bird favorite. How about saving protein-starved children worldwide or our funding-starved local schools? (By lessening prison and drug testing costs, we free money for our schools.) What if North Carolina could enter the energy industry via biomass instead of nuclear? This solution has been written out of our textbooks and ignored by media, impairing America's freedom of choice. Freedom of speech is overruled by fear ingrained into our subconscious minds from childhood through adulthood. Dare we change our perspective on marijuana? Isn't it about time North Carolina takes another look at the Earth's premier renewable resource? God gave us all seed-bearing plants, according to Genesis. If not now, when? CLIFTON INGRAM Clemmons. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh