Drug addiction is a disease, not a crime. USA Today's article "'Meth' move East" brags about the massive police resources spent on busting drug labs (Cover story, News, Wednesday). But I bet if we spent half as much money on treatment and prevention, we wouldn't have the labs in the first place. Adam Wiggins Pasadena, Calf. [end]
Marijuana reduces pain and nausea while stimulating the appetite. This makes it an excellent medicine for certain types of diseases, a point the author of "A Haze of Misinformation Clouds Issue of Medical Marijuana" (Commentary, July 22) seems to miss entirely. What kinds of diseases are these? Cancer (especially the symptoms of chemotherapy) and AIDS are two of the most notable. No one claims that marijuana can "cure" these diseases. But shouldn't we allow victims of these maladies to live their final days in comfort? Adam Wiggins, Valley Village [end]
Editor: Kudos to Scott Perry for his editorial, "War On Drugs: We Are Fighting a Losing Battle." He is quite right to compare alcohol prohibition in the last century to drug prohibition today. It didn't work then, and it doesn't work now. The problem of drug abuse is one that our society needs to address, but putting people in jail for smoking a joint is not the answer. Adam Wiggins Pasadena, CA [end]
EDITOR: I was offended by the Sept. 29 piece "Rave Clubs Not Rave Locally" which implies a sinister nature to rave events. I am a DJ and long-time member of the rave & club scene here in California, and I am deeply disturbed by the negative stigma which many people seem to attach to our culture. Raver culture is extremely positive. We believe in PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect). Are these not worthwhile values? In ravers I see a utopian sub-community, where violence or "bad vibes" are rare, but caring, understanding, and tolerance are the norm. [continues 118 words]
Dear Editors, Danielle Ben-Veniste's "Outraged Over Rave" (Issue #4.35) hits the nail right on the head regarding the federal government's attempted anti-rave legislation. I am a DJ and long-time member of the rave and club scene here in California, and I am deeply disturbed by the negative stigma that many people seem to attach to our culture. Raver culture is extremely positive. We believe in PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity and Respect) - are these not worthwhile values? In ravers I see a utopian sub-community, where violence or "bad vibes" are rare, but caring, understanding and tolerance are the norm. [continues 160 words]
A thousand kudos for Richard Sincere's incredible column, "Noelle Bush: Example Of Drug War's Failure" (Sept. 16). Mr. Sincere hits the nail right on the head: 30 years of the war on drugs have culminated in a high degree of drug use in schools, prisons, and even Noelle Bush's rehab clinic. Why in the world do we continue to pursue this miserably failed policy? Adam Wiggins, Pasadena, Calif. [end]
Bravo to David Harris for his Sept. 18 Burlington Post column Patients exempt from law for marijuana possession still can't make legal buys. Nations around the world (including nine states in the U.S.) have made marijuana legal for medical use, but none provide a safe and legal method of distribution. The apparent impotence of legislators to step up and establish such a system is puzzling. Everyone agrees, from the Canadian Senate committee to the voters themselves, that medical marijuana must be made available to suffering patients who need it. So what are they waiting for? (By e-mail) [end]
The Senate committee's recommendation to legalize responsible cannabis use is well-researched and pragmatic. The Sept. 10 editorial, Legal Pot A Dopey Idea, tries to refute the report by arguing that "marijuana is not a benefit to society." I've got news for you: neither are cigarettes, alcohol, twinkies or pornography, but should you be thrown in jail for partaking of any of the aforementioned vices? No, and neither should Canadians face jail for responsible pot smoking. The criminalization of cannabis has filled jails with otherwise law-abiding citizens, inspired disdain for the law among youth and made organized criminals extremely rich. Increased enforcement has only exacerbated the situation. The Senate committee's recommendation will be a great step forward toward solving these and other problems caused by the prohibition of cannabis. Adam Wiggins, Pasadena, Calif. [end]
To the Editor: Despite a few officials' misgivings, the Canadian Senate's recommendation to legalize responsible cannabis use is a wise one. The criminalization of cannabis has filled jails with otherwise law-abiding citizens, inspired disdain for the law among youth and made organized criminals extremely rich. Increased enforcement has only exacerbated the situation. By regulating the market, we can place proper age controls on the use of cannabis, and take it out of the hands of black market drug dealers. Government resources currently spent on enforcement can be diverted to education and treatment. And most importantly, we can stop locking up productive citizens who use cannabis responsibly - thus saving a jail cell for a real criminal. Adam Wiggins, Pasadena, CA [end]
RE: 'Senators would legalize pot' (Sept. 5). I agree with the Canadian Senate committee's recommendation to legalize responsible cannabis use. The criminalization of cannabis has filled jails with otherwise law-abiding citizens, inspired government disdain among youth, and made organized crime extremely rich. Increased enforcement of such laws has only exacerbated the situation. It's time to try another approach: legalize and regulate. By regulating the market, governments can place proper age controls on the use of cannabis, and take it out of the hands of black-market drug dealers. And government resources currently spent on enforcement can be diverted to education and treatment. - -- Adam Wiggins, Pasadena, Calif. [end]
RE "Going to pot," (editorial, Sept. 5): This editorial is quite correct that it is time to begin a serious debate on the reform of cannabis laws. The criminalization of cannabis has filled jails with otherwise law-abiding citizens, inspired government disdain among youth and made organized crime extremely rich. The Senate deserves nothing but praise for suggesting such a wise and pragmatic policy reform. Whether or not you agree with the Senate's report, it is without a doubt that an examination of existing legislation is in order. Adam Wiggins (Nothing wrong with a debate) [end]
The Sept. 5 editorial Smoke clouds reason flippantly suggests that the Canadian Senate's recommendation to legalize responsible cannabis use is irresponsible. A simple examination of the facts will prove that the Senate's report is, in fact, right on target. The criminalization of cannabis has filled jails with otherwise law-abiding citizens, inspired government disdain among youth and made organized crime extremely rich. The Senate deserves nothing but praise for suggesting such a wise and pragmatic policy reform. The author of this editorial appears to have had his head in the sand for the past 30 years. Current policies are simply not working. Adam Wiggins (You got any munchies, Adam?) [end]
I feel deeply for Matthew A. Mernagh and all the members of the Toronto Compassion Centre who will no longer have access to their medicine (Reefer Sadness, NOW, August 22-28). The article brings up a very interesting point: the cost of medical cannabis versus commercial drugs with similar effects. Pharmaceutical companies are no doubt fighting against medical cannabis. An effective painkiller that people can grow themselves is fierce competition for their products. But I, for one, am more concerned that sufferers of debilitating diseases can get an effective low-cost medication than I am about protecting the pocketbooks of drug manufacturers. Pasadena, CA [end]
THE basic principles of economics are shown to be just as valid in the black market as they are in legitimate ones ("Efforts to curtail poppy cultivation fail," Page 6A, Aug 19). Poor Afghan farmers, their land bombed and razed, are turning to the only crop that can feed their families: opium. This crop is so lucrative because of the massive demand from U.S. citizens, and because drug prohibitions keep the supply tight. Low supply and high demand equal vast profits, and such profits are bound to attract struggling Third World farmers. [continues 59 words]
Editor, the News-Sentinel: I've got a suggestion on how to improve the zero-tolerance policy of Knox County schools: Get rid of it. Destroying the futures of kids who make poor choices doesn't benefit anyone. According to the Monitoring the Future Survey, over half of all high school seniors have tried an illegal drug. Denying these students the chance to graduate from high school and grow up to become productive members of society is not in our best interest. [continues 307 words]
I applaud Police Chief Wayne Frechette for his pragmatic views on cannabis use ("Flagrant Pot Use Would Lead To Arrests", July 23). It is a waste of a police officer's time to arrest cannabis users, a fact that Chief Frechette is well aware of. And he knows that the "gateway theory" - long since disproven by medical science but still believed by many government officials - is bunk. Good for him! Now if we could just get some of that pragmatism into the politicians... Adam Wiggins Director, Neoteric http://www.neoteric.nu Pasadena, CA [end]
Re "Rave Bylaw Will Give Parents A Boost", by Steve Madely (July 25): I am outraged at this column's assertion that dance music culture is somehow harmful to kids. I am a DJ and longtime member of the rave/club music scene here in Los Angeles. Raving has enriched my life in innumerable ways. I have met some of my very best friends at raves in clubs over the years, and it has enriched their lives as well. The drugs argument doesn't hold water. There is far more drug use at your average rock concert than clubs or raves. So why not a bill like this against rock concert promoters? This is discrimination based on musical taste, pure and simple. Adam Wiggins (Clubs already have licensing requirements -- and no one denies that every type of night life can have an unsavoury side) [end]
The case of the Wayne County corrections officer is not an unusual one. Drugs have found their way into even the highest security prisons. I have just one question: If we can't keep drugs out of our maximum security prisons, then how in the world do we expect to keep them out of the country as a whole? Adam Wiggins Pasadena, Calif. [end]
The July 20 letter, "Marijuana has no medical validity," states that there have been no studies which support the medical use of marijuana. From a study commissioned by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and conducted by the Institute of Medicine: "Scientific data indicate the potential therapeutic value of cannabinoid drugs, primarily THC, for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation." The full text of the study is available at www.nap.edu/ readingroom/books/ marimed/. Adam Wiggins, Director Neoteric (www.neoteric.nu) Pasadena, Calif. [end]
Bravo to Licia Corbella for "Pot ruling not high on activist's wish list," July 18. The fact Grant Krieger faces criminal charges for providing medicine to sick and dying patients is deplorable. Although I am glad Canada continues to take strides toward a saner cannabis policy, I fully agree the process should be moving quicker. While the politicians hem and haw over the details, tens of thousands of Canadians are suffering. Adam Wiggins (The feds should get off the pot.) [end]
