The "ick" factor is the product of decades of propaganda that is clearly demonstrated by the following quote from the father of the War on Drugs, Richard Nixon ("Marijuana support group needs new name" June 22). From the mouth of Richard Nixon: "You know it's a funny thing, every one of the bastards that are out for legalizing marijuana is Jewish." And, "the whole problem is really the blacks." (Reference: Recorded in the White House tapes in conversations between Richard Nixon and H.R. Haldeman on May 26, 1971, at 10:03 a.m. in the Oval Office and documented in "The Haldeman Diaries," being published by G.P. Putnam's Sons). The real "ICK" factor is this drug war waged against our own people that really is the hidden tool of deep-rooted hatred and racism. Robert R. Ryan, president, Ohio NORML [end]
Regarding "Medical marijuana advocates' hope renewed" (Oct. 21): It should be noted that marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug by Ohio and the federal government. A Schedule I drug is defined as one that fits all the following criteria: a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States and a lack of accepted safety standards for its use under medical supervision The last criterion is interesting. It says even a doctor could not use marijuana safely. Thus, marijuana is considered deadly, addictive and with no medical use. I challenge Ohio Senate President Bill Harris, an Ashland Republican who opposes the proposed bill, to prove any one of those criteria. The real question is what moral or ethical justification we have for putting people in jail simply for possessing or using marijuana for their own medical needs. Robert Ryan Ryan is president of Ohio Patient Network. [end]
There may be a difference in opinion as to whether heroin has become the drug of choice in Wabash County or merely that, with more police resources devoted to combating it, more arrests have issued. Regardless, the very lively Chicago-to Wabash connection in the heroin trade was one of the top stories in Wabash County this year. Our newsroom selected it the ninth biggest story. The Wabash Police Drug Task Force thought the pipeline serious enough that early this year they shifted some of their resources from the old standbys - meth, cocaine, marijuana, prescription drugs - - to heroin. [continues 140 words]
The editorial "Make homicides target No. 1" (Nov. 23) for making homicides the number one priority is noteworthy, and even acknowledged that Hamilton County Coroner Dr. O'dell Owens' assessment that it's just drug dealers killing each other was not accurate. There are many other negative impacts related to these drug-trade-related homicides. The editorial fell short when it called for more of the dug war's "Plan A" tactics. It is time to discuss how to honestly decrease this violence. Plan A is not working, has not worked and will never work, so where is Plan B? Robert Ryan Blue Ash [end]
It was very refreshing to read two rational pieces in the Post's opinion pages that opposed Representative Rob Portman's zero tolerance "Drug Impaired Driving Enforcement Act of 2004". This bill has nothing to do with impaired driving, it's really about finding new ways to punish people for situations that do not constitute a legitimate threat. For example, marijuana can be detected weeks after you have been exposed, either directly or indirectly by second hand smoke. Thus a person could be convicted even though they were not impaired at all. This bill has no basis in science or fact. Rob Ryan [end]
Editor, Delegates at the AMA's semiannual policymaking committee in Dallas approved a resolution that recommends allowing free discussion between doctors and patients about marijuana use for treatment of diseases such as AIDS and multiple sclerosis. I read the recent AMA resolution about marijuana and came up with the following question. What have we become where a group of doctors feel so threatened they have to band together to even propose such a resolution? I quote part of the AMA resolution. ``The AMA believes that effective patient care requires the free and unfettered exchange of information on treatment alternatives and that discussion of these alternatives between physicians and patients should not subject either party to criminal sanctions...'' [continues 67 words]
General Barry McCaffrey, President Clinton’s Drug Czar, recently called parents on the carpet for their ambivalence in the War on Drugs. Their ambivalence is with good reason. Our government through representatives, such as Mr. McCaffrey and his friend Mr. Califano, former Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, are not telling the truth and they know it. For example they neglect to tell you that most of the 100,00 people who seek treatment for marijuana are teens responding to a court order. [continues 248 words]
Dear Honorable Congressman Gilchrest, I have a few important question for you on the War on drugs. George Shultz, Kurt Schmoke, Milton Friedman, William Buckley, the state of California, and many others have called for an alternatives to the war on drugs, including the legalization of currently illegal drugs. Mayor Schmoke poses three questions to his constituents. Do you think we've won the Drug War? Do you think we're winning the Drug War? If we keep doing what we're doing now, in 10 years, will we have won the Drug War? I ask you to answer these basic questions and the following questions. [continues 808 words]
I am a parent and I will no longer be ambivalent or quiet about the drug war. As a parent of four, I am very concerned about my children health and well being. The government in its misguided attempts to help has made this whole situation worse. I will take care of my children. I do not want or need any of the government's help. I am sure the parents of Ezquiel Hernandez, who was killed by our own Marines instructed in zero tolerance, does not want any more help from the government either. [continues 150 words]
A long time ago, a commission was formed by former President Nixon. The task he gave to his commission was to study marijuana and provide some solid information concerning the drug that was sweeping the country. The commission he established was a blue ribbon commission containing doctors, lawyers, legislators and chaired by a conservative republican governor. Two years later the commission presented its report; Marijuana: A Signal of Misunderstanding. Unfortunately, the report did not contain the information he wanted to hear and so he refused to accept the report and denounced his own commission. [continues 803 words]
