Pubdate: Fri, 29 Sep 2010
Source: DrugSense Blog
Website: http://drugsense.org/blog/

LETTER OF THE WEEK

Cannabis Cat and Mouse

Pushing 60 now, I've long been tired of the cat-and-mouse game that 
using cannabis invokes.  I totally lost any respect for the law at a 
tender age.  Faith in government? What, the government that wants to 
see me in a cage? The prohibition has been quite corrosive on my and 
many of my comrades' patriotism.

We can restore respect for law, and law enforcement, as well as faith 
in the American way by ending this prohibition.  We could even end up 
like the Dutch--who've managed to make pot boring in the eyes of that 
country's youth and whose rates of use are but a small fraction of ours.

The war on cannabis has its roots in racism, and is now the new Jim 
Crow.  It has been a handy cudgel to whup on Mexicans, blacks and 
those darn hippies.  Despite the claims, it has never had anything to 
do with public safety.

This war on our own citizens can be ended.  The passage of Prop. 19 
will force a large crack in the dike.  Much of the delay, deceit, and 
obfuscation seen after the passage of Prop.  215 should be 
neutralized by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano's recently introduced 
legislation to create a uniform statewide regulatory system.  "If 19 
passes, we'll be ready," he asserts.  Prop 19 includes language that 
allows modification by the Legislature.  This was missing in 215.

My ballot is marked Yes.  I hope yours is, too.

Jay Bergstrom

Forest Ranch

Pubdate: Thu, 21 Oct 2010

Source: Chico News & Review, The (CA) 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake