Pubdate: Wed, 09 Aug 2006
Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Copyright: 2006 Mountain Xpress
Contact:  http://www.mountainx.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/941
Author: Kirk Muse
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

OUT OF CONTROL

I have a question for James P. Anderson ["Gone to Pot 
(http://www.mountainx.com/opinion/2006/0719letters.php)," July 19] 
and the other Jesus freaks who think marijuana is so evil: Who would 
Jesus incarcerate?

I believe Jesus would have jumped over the pot peddlers to get to the 
evil tobacco sellers and producers. Our annual 
tobacco-versus-marijuana kill ratio is about 400,000 to zero. 
Worldwide, tobacco is expected to kill a billion people before the 
end of this century.

So should we criminalize tobacco? No.

If we criminalized tobacco products, tobacco would soon be 
unregulated, untaxed and controlled by criminals - just like 
recreational drugs are now. And we would soon have an abundant amount 
of "tobacco-related crime."

- - Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman