Pubdate: Sun, 01 Nov 2015
Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
Copyright: 2015 The Commercial Appeal
Contact: http://web.commercialappeal.com/newgo/forms/letters.htm
Website: http://www.commercialappeal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/95
Author: Herald M. Taylor

CHANGE MARIJUANA LAWS

Memphis

In reference to the Oct. 25 article a=C2=80=C2=9CThe bipartisan marijuana

myth,a=C2=80=C2=9D in 1937 Harry Anslinger testified before Congress on t
he
evils of marijuana. Congress made it illegal (The Marijuana Tax Stamp
Act of 1937). He later admitted his testimony was not true and in fact
marijuana was relatively harmless. The La Guardia Commission report on
marijuana also found it was relatively harmless.

This law was declared unconstitutional in 1970. That led to President
Nixon signing the 1970 Controlled Substances Act. Marijuana has been a
Schedule 1 controlled substance since then. Under President Nixon the
Shaffer Commission issued a report and also determined that marijuana
was relatively harmless. Of course, Nixon buried the report.

The fact that marijuana does not meet the requirements to be
classified as a Schedule 1 drug has not stopped the federal government
from classifying it as one. A Federal administrative judge wrote a
letter to the FDA/DEA notifying them of the incorrect classification,
but he was ignored.

The federal and state governments should release all people imprisoned
for marijuana crimes, expunge the records of their convictions and
restore their voting rights.

Hundreds of billions of dollars have been wasted on enforcing
marijuana prohibition. It is time to end this insanity.

Herald M. Taylor
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