Regarding Dick Feagler's Sept. 7 column "Feds swat pot to keep vice market cornered": Feagler hit the nail on the head. He has the guts to say what most government agencies and elected officials won't: The whole war on marijuana is a complete failure. As federal and state officials are busy tearing pot plants out of our ground, marijuana continues to flow in from Mexico. Someday, someone in a position of power will realize that our efforts to eradicate marijuana are just diverting U.S. dollars to Mexico. [continues 200 words]
Canada finally is taking the steps toward a saner marijuana policy. The Canadian government has introduced legislation that will decriminalize small amounts of marijuana (15 grams). This is an issue supported by the Canadian people, Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and, surprisingly, the American people. A nationwide poll of 1,024 likely voters, conducted Nov. 27-29, 2001, by Zogby International, concluded that 61 percent of Americans are opposed to arresting and jailing marijuana smokers. Ohio adopted similar legislation during the 1970s and has saved the state millions of dollars by ticketing people instead of ar resting and dragging them through the legal system, where police, prosecutors and judges are busy with real criminals who have actual victims. [continues 221 words]
Congratulations to Ohio's 9th District Court of Appeals for its decision to let Teresa Scott keep her children even though she is a marijuana smoker. I hope this is a sign of things to come. For decades, marijuana users have been nearly as misunderstood as their intoxicant of choice. Although marijuana produces mood-altering effects, its impairment is nowhere near the level that alcohol is capable of producing. Most adult marijuana smokers don't see why this behavior subjects them to harsh penalties while beer drinkers are free to do what they want as long as they don't drive drunk. I have never heard of parents losing their children because they enjoy alcohol. While it may sometimes be necessary to remove the children of an abusive alcoholic, it should never be standard practice to remove any child who seems to have all of his needs met. [continues 141 words]
