The Post-Crescent recently ran an Associated Press article entitled "Chicago mayor says marijuana laws need reforms." The mayor of this country's third-largest city was proposing an ordinance with fines instead of criminal prosecution for small amounts of marijuana possession. Very interesting. I regularly read The Post-Crescent court reports that describe criminal offenses and the punishment imposed. Time after time, I see a substantial number of young people arrested and convicted of marijuana possession, and almost invariably, they receive a sentence of a several-hundred-dollar fine and a year's probation. [continues 543 words]
Editor, The Post-Crescent: The Kaukauna School District is considering whether to bring dogs into the school in an effort to catch students who may have brought certain sniffable drugs into school or who may have the residue of such drugs on their clothes, body or vehicle. The Bush administration is also providing funds so that schools can require mandatory drug screening. Why is the school district not debating that apparently legitimate anti-drug tool? This will catch students who are too clever to get caught with the dogs, like students who may only smoke marijuana on weekends. [continues 227 words]
According to an Associated Press story by David Kravets (Oct. 15), a federal court in San Francisco ruled not to punish doctors who prescribe marijuana (cannabis). The article reported that nine states make allowances for individuals to smoke cannabis with a doctor's recommendation, albeit federal law prohibits the possession of cannabis. The court's ruling sends a message to hamfisted doctors that it is appropriate for their patients to violate federal law, and places them at risk to develop more serious physical and psychological problems. [continues 600 words]
