Pubdate: Sun, 31 Jul 2011
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2011 The Arizona Republic
Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Neil Thex
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n478/a08.html?1287

MONTINI RIGHT, MONTGOMERY WRONG

It's a disturbing situation when a newspaper columnist, E.J. Montini,
shows a greater knowledge of legal issues than the county attorney,
Bill Montgomery ("Politicians blow smoke on medical marijuana," Valley
& State, July 21).

In the matter of medical marijuana, Montgomery pulls an argument out
of thin air that state employees might someday in the future be
prosecuted for something that is entirely legal today because someday
in the future it might not be legal and that someday in the future a
federal administration might decide to disregard states' rights and
that someday in the future some county attorney might be too
weak-kneed to defend states' rights.

Montgomery seems to be entirely too passive on the issue of states'
rights. His lie-down approach doesn't show much gumption and is sort
of like wringing his hands over the repeal of Prohibition.

Over 50 percent voted to legalize medical marijuana, so Montgomery
does not have any choice in the matter of which laws to enforce and
which not to enforce. A vote of the citizens trumps a whim of a county
attorney every time.

Neil Thex,

Mesa
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.