Regarding the incessant hysteria about legalizing pot-having smoked it for 49 years now, I think it is about time to legalize. So, if you don't like it, then don't smoke it. And I hope all you stoners will get off the couch and go vote! Because you did not vote in '06, legalization lost by about 6 percent. Don't you think it's time to get into the real world and quit pretending it's still 1950? And no, it should not be legal for minors. Their brains are not yet fully developed, in my humble opinion. [continues 51 words]
The election was pretty much a disaster. I'm not talking about the donkeys and the elephants (I'm a Green), who are going to gridlock in short order and muck things up. It is, instead, the failure of Proposition 19 in California that is discouraging. I don't care about pot. People have been getting high as long as there have been people and will as long as there are. Instead, sadly, we will not look at industrial hemp for another election cycle. [continues 84 words]
Re "Drug tests" (Feature story, July 8): Drugs have been around far longer than governments and will continue to be long beyond them. Some do drugs to escape, party, get laid or have other juicy times. Some do it to push the limits of consciousness or to try to find meaning and art. Some abuse them, and that's bad. I think if you're an adult, you should be able to explore the limits of your own world/mind without hindrance--not because some silly second-hander says, "No, that's scary," or someone else wants to pass a law to "protect" you from yourself. [continues 109 words]
Since the feds gave us the Yucca repository, it is only fitting to pass the marijuana initiative. It'll drive 'em nuts if one of the 50 states does something they refuse to do. Passage will allow police to seriously fight the drug war - decoupling pot from the truly dangerous drugs. This will help weaken and destroy the drug cartels that sell bad drugs along with pot. Not only should we pass this into law, but we should increase penalties for the bad drugs. [continues 129 words]
