Pubdate: Tue, 09 May 2006 Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK) Copyright: 2006 The Anchorage Daily News Contact: http://www.adn.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18 Author: Savon Duchein Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?233 (LEAP) MARIJUANA IS A NATURAL SUBSTANCE, UNLIKE METH, WHICH IS AN EPIDEMIC I am appalled that Gov. Frank Murkowski is chiseling away at our rights again. What better way than to outlaw marijuana than to classify it with methamphetamine? It doesn't take a genius to see that marijuana (a natural substance) is nothing like the devastating methamphetamine epidemic. Meth users look like the living dead. On the other hand, it is hard to pick out a pot smoker. The truth is that you probably know at least five people who smoke marijuana; it may be your doctor, the waitress at the restaurant or even a relative. Alaskans pride ourselves on our freedom; next they'll be outlawing guns, cigarettes and liquor. Oh, yeah, that's right, too much money to be made off those things even though they kill thousands yearly. And yet strangely enough marijuana has never been shown to cause anything but the munchies. The United States spends billions of dollars a year to fight the war on drugs. A Web site by current and former members of law enforcement who support drug regulation rather than prohibition is a great place to gain some knowledge on this issue. And last but not least, Genesis, Chapter 1: "I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be food." - ---- Savon Duchein Palmer - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman