Pubdate: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 Source: Ukiah Daily Journal, The (CA) Copyright: 2008 The Ukiah Daily Journal Contact: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/feedback Website: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/581 Author: Stan White Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n936/a09.html LEGALIZATION IS THE ONLY ANSWER To the Editor: It's commendable that Mendocino County Sheriff, Tom Allman isn't targeting cannabis (marijuana) patients or their caregiver's cultivation sites (Letter: Sheriff Discusses Policies, Oct. 10, 2008). It is important to note however that the sheriff is partly responsible for his list of negative aspects of cannabis cultivation. Police unions across America lobby, support and perpetuate cannabis prohibition and its discredited laws. Damaging the environment, contaminating soils, stealing water, killing wildlife and livestock, trespassing, threatening law abiding citizens, draining natural resources and not paying taxes is all due to prohibition, not honest plant cultivation. The original prohibition of alcohol had the same associated problems which don't exist today because alcohol is legal, and regulated. There is reason to believe legalizing and regulating the relatively safe God-given plant cannabis would have the same results. Millions of responsible adult citizens choose to use cannabis and demand its availability; cannabis is here to stay. Does Sheriff Allman even realize by supporting cannabis prohibition, He insures all those associated ills will remain until cannabis is re-legalized? And "public safety?" Murder rates declined for 10 years after repealing the original prohibition. Stan White Dillon, Colorado - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin