Author David Correa is featured in a November Coalition page at: http://www.november.org/wall-DavidC.html .......... I applaud PLAYBOY for James Bovard's article on drug sentences. "Time Out for Justice (The Playboy Forum, December) shows clearly the incongruity of our country's criminal-sentencing guidelines. I question the morality of a drug policy that categorizes drug users as more dangerous than murderers. People should have an inalienable right to do whatever we want to ourselves. Criminalizing drug use is like prohibiting bungee jumping. The sport can have fatal consequences, but you can't make it a crime to take the risk. Bovard's account of Will Foster's conviction is all the more disturbing because Foster harmed nobody by growing marijuana in his home. He wasn't even taking a life risk (unless, of course, you take into account his 93-year sentence). I hope similar editorial treatment of the drug war catastrophe will encourage a more humane approach. [continues 629 words]
When we're spending in excess of $27 billion annually (federal), we'd better have good reason to ignore these recommendations. But history tells us otherwise. Alcohol prohibition taught that it was not the alcohol, but the prohibition itself, that spread violence, crime and corruption across the land. And still, the Eighteenth Amendment did very little to combat alcoholism. We see exactly the same today. Nevertheless, we are clueless to the direct relationship between drug prohibition and the crime and violence associated with the drug market. And when we're told that drug treatment is simultaneously more effective and affordable, we still think our failed drug policy just needs a pick-me-up. If we admit the War on Drugs has failed, and we know treatment works better than prisons to fight drug abuse, then I think it is time we take our tax dollars a little more seriously. Joel W. Johnson San Jose, CA [end]
To the Editor: Robin Bryant's editorial is all the reason we need to defend the cannabis buyers clubs from the attack of Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren and the federal government. While the clubs may not be the best method to distribute marijuana to the sick, at very least, they take business away from drug dealers and provide a safe, accountable means to provide treatment. Bryant's heartfelt account clearly shows that California's vote on Proposition 215 was propelled by compassion and humanity. Unfortunately, it will take more and more stories about a "loved one [who] vomited uncontrollably due to chemotherapy. . . or watched them sink into a vegetative depression which was unresponsive to prescription drugs" to sway our stubborn atty. general from his position to attack the sick simply because marijuana is the cure that ails them. My only consolation from Lungren's motion to squelch the clubs is my confidence in his failure: you can't defeat the needs of the sick and dying. Sincerely, Joel W. Johnson [end]
Not only do our wartime tactics prevent us from helping people who are "down and out," they further prevent them from getting back up. While insisting that our drug problem needs to be fought and not helped, we refuse to allow the housing and treatment that can actually solve the drug-abuse problem. Rather, our policy dictates to have them arrested. When will we understand that only when we wage a war for education, or against poverty and homelessness, will we finally be capable of putting a dent in drug abuse? Only a different drug policy would finally eliminate the black market that necessitates guns, violence and corruption. We need to view our drug problem with compassion, not blame and hatred. Only then will we be able to minimize the damage done by drugs to our society. Joel W. Johnson San Jose, CA [end]
A fantastic notion! Remove "heroin'' from his statement, however, and it becomes a brilliant methodology for which to fight all drug abuse in general. Drug abuse and addiction, after all, is a medical problem. But somehow, we choose to combat the act of facilitating addiction, not the addiction itself. It should be no surprise that our war on drugs has completely failed to solve the very problem for which it was intended. But not only has the war prevented us from addressing drug abuse, it has created a black market flooded with guns, violence, corruption, and a temptation to our youth that can only be created by prohibition. [continues 52 words]
The medical use of marijuana is legal in California, as described in our story on pot clubs that distribute marijuana as treatment to patients who have a doctor's permission (Law, Dec. 8). But it is still outlawed by the U.S. government. A number of our readers were concerned that interference from Washington might spoil things at places like San Francisco's Cannabis Cultivators Club, which sells pot in a headshop atmosphere. Among the uneasy ones is Joel W. Johnson of San Jose, Calif., who sees the pot clubs as more than a place simply to chill out. "The clubs provide a center for suffers of AIDS, Johnson notes, "a place to get medical relief, have fun and forget about troubles. What is so horrible about that?" [continues 92 words]
It certainly doesn't seem obvious that Peter McWilliams was some sort of international drug dealer-he smokes marijuana for medicinal relief and he's writing a book about his experience. Could the DEA have something else to protect other than the people from their own decisions? Joel W. Johnson San Jose, CA [end]
Re "Agents Raid Home of Writer on Medical Use of Marijuana," Dec. 18: Makes you wonder what the Drug Enforcement Administration is really up to, when they begin raiding people's homes simply for writing about a view the DEA opposes. It certainly doesn't seem obvious that Peter McWilliams was some sort of international drug dealer he smokes marijuana for medicinal relief and he's writing a book about his experience. Could the DEA have something else to protect other than the people from their own decisions? JOEL W. JOHNSON, San Jose Copyright Los Angeles Times [end]
I think it is ludicrous that we are diverting our police efforts to curb teen smoking - not only will it not work, but it violates our function of police enforcement "to serve and protect." So how can we be so foolish as to do thisto our youth? How can we treat them more like criminals than people who are our future? Education, understanding and love are of utmost importance for our future, not enforcement of rules that parents are too lazy or powerless to do themselves! [continues 84 words]
Editor I wholeheartedly agree with Bob Herbert's column, ``Siccing Cops on Teen Smokers Is Gross Overkill'' (Chronicle, December 12). I think it is ludicrous that we are diverting our police efforts to curb teen smoking not only will it not work, but it violates our function of police enforcement ``to serve and protect.'' So how can we be so foolish as to do thisto our youth? How can we treat them more like criminals than people who are our future? [continues 107 words]
As the article states, people believe drug abuse is the biggest danger facing children, and worries about children living in poverty or lacking health care are "non-existent." Mistakenly, we have created a single, easily recognizable scapegoat for ourselves when, in fact, there are a multitude of problems affecting our youth. Sometimes drugs are the problem, but more often they are only the solution. Poverty and the lack of education are, in fact, the biggest factors in determining those who abuse drugs. [continues 133 words]
To the Editor: USA TODAY's report "Drugs top adult fears for kids' wellbeing" (Life, Dec. 9) should give us a smack upside the head, not because drugs are the biggest problem facing our youth but because we have chosen to make them the biggest. As the article states, people believe drug abuse is the biggest danger facing children, and worries about children living in poverty or lacking health care are "nonexistent." Mistakenly, we have created a single, easily recognizable scapegoat for ourselves when, in fact, there are a multitude of problems affecting our youth. Sometimes drugs are the problem, but more often they are only the solution. Poverty and the lack of education are, in fact, the biggest factors in determining those who abuse drugs. [continues 133 words]
One must consider why teens start smoking in the first place: They smoke because it is forbidden. So will legislation to punish teenage smoking help? I don't think so. High school kids are not going to consider the legal consequences of smoking if they have already dismissed the health risks. Only proper education will reduce teenage smoking. Joel W. Johnson San Jose, California [end]
TEENAGE SMOKERS Regarding "Cracking Down on Young Smokers" (Dec. 8): Cracking down on teenage smokers will make things worse, not better. One must consider why teens start smoking in the first place: They smoke because it is forbidden. So will legislation to punish teenage smoking help? I don't think so. High school kids are not going to consider the legal consequences of smoking if they have already dismissed the health risks. Only proper education will reduce teenage smoking. JOEL W. JOHNSON. San Jose, California. [end]
