If consumers are going to purchase and consume beer and other alcohol products [Re: Cannabis Corner, "Are People Switching From Booze To Pot?," Jan. 19], consider purchasing them from companies who do not support or enable cannabis (marijuana) prohibition. That's not always easy to do. In the past, large beer producers contributed to the Ad Council, which aired anti-cannabis rhetoric using lies, half-truths and propaganda in order to perpetuate cannabis prohibition, in part to eliminate competition. Another thing making it difficult to know which companies are harmful is the way large breweries are purchasing small craft breweries. [continues 99 words]
Editor: Conservative MP Mark Warawa illustrates problems with cannabis (marijuana) prohibition - Are Langley And Canada Going To Pot? (the Times, Jan. 20) - and their failed logic. While responsible adults may purchase a truckload of whiskey, they're concerned with approximately one ounce of plant material that hasn't killed anyone in over 5,000 years of documented use. As expected, 30 grams of cannabis may be worth $300 or more on the black market while it is illegal, however, Colorado has proven the price of re-legalized and regulated cannabis may be reduced by 50 per cent. Why would anyone want to force the black market to regulate (always available) cannabis rather than force government to do its job? Stan White, Dillon, Colorado [end]
Larry Comeau's comments ("Challenges exist in legalization of pot," Dec. 27) regarding cannabis (marijuana) and Colorado's choice to relegalize the plant differ from my observations and facts. If anything, "organized crime" relating to cannabis in Colorado has diminished, and that's an expected benefit to ending prohibition. It's hard to fathom that cannabis "users will undoubtedly end up with the same serious ailments as tobacco smokers," since in over 5,000 years of documented use it hasn't killed one single person, while tobacco kills over 1,000 North Americans daily. [continues 61 words]
Pamela McColl is guilty of some backwards thinking. Eight decades of cannabis (marijuana) prohibition has proven to be "experimenting with dangerous drug policies" and "risky public-health policy," not the other way around. Insinuating cannabis laws involve "evidence-based drug policy" could not be farther from the truth. Cannabis prohibition and persecution was orchestrated from the beginning out of greed and racism. If cannabis were discovered today for the first time, it would be hailed as a miracle plant. Stan White Dillon, CO [end]
There's more to Paul Kelly's observations (Reefer Madness, Dec. 9, 2016). North American's contempt for cannabis (marijuana) prohibition is greater than any time in history. Citizens are no longer waiting on government to end the farce. Prohibitionists have lost their platform and the only thing left is to create regulations, which are acceptable to the increasing majority. People expect to be able to grow cannabis and purchase it in regulated markets. Further, cannabis has never been illegal in the eyes of its creator; powerful people have illegitimately been enabled to punish citizens for using what God indicates He created and says is good on literally the very first page of the Bible. God and cannabis are winners. Stan White Dillon, Colorado [end]
While Alberta Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley and Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister are advocating delaying regulation of cannabis, usage by citizens who wish to use the plant will continue. Their message then must be acknowledged as informing consumers to continue purchasing cannabis from the black market while government takes additional time to create a regulated legal market to replace it. And that's tolerable since North Americans have grown accustomed to the increased efficiency of the black market regulating cannabis for the last eight decades. Stan White (New rules are allegedly coming soon.) [end]
While Alberta Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley and Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister are advocating delaying regulation of cannabis, usage by citizens who wish to use the plant will continue. Their message then must be acknowledged as informing consumers to continue purchasing cannabis from the black market while government takes additional time to create a regulated legal market to replace it. And that's tolerable since North Americans have grown accustom to the increased efficiency of the black market regulating cannabis for the last eight decades. Stan White (New rules are allegedly coming soon.) [end]
Whether or not cannabis (marijuana) dispensaries are legal is no longer the issue, and it's less complicated than grey areas. Never has cannabis prohibition not been treated with contempt from citizenry. Presently, the level of contempt is greater than at any other time in history. Laws are being challenged and are changing and citizens are not waiting on government to do it. Cannabis prohibition is over. The only thing left is to create regulations, and in the meantime, people across North America are going to continue acquiring the plant and are no longer tolerating a prohibitionist stance in the equation. [continues 58 words]
Re: 'Feds should delay legalizing pot,' Dec. 6. I'm sure Premier Brian Pallister means well. However, cannabis (marijuana) usage and sales are not going to wait for delays. Pallister's message then must be acknowledged as informing consumers to continue purchasing cannabis from the black market while government takes additional time to create a regulated legal market to replace it. And that's perfectly fine; North Americans have grown accustomed to the increased efficiency of the black market for the last eight decades. Dillon, Colorado (An intense education campaign is needed for when pot is legalized.) [end]
Editor: Decades of cannabis prohibitionist lies, half-truths and propaganda ("Vote No for a Safer Community," Oct. 20, 2016), today, is one of the reasons cannabis (marijuana) prohibition is about to end. Colorado voters heard it all before and voted. While polls predicting election results regarding cannabis seem to indicate it will pass, one poll is spot-on that voters can count on. In Colorado, every subsequent poll indicates citizens continue supporting the end of cannabis prohibition. There is every reason to believe when California citizens end cannabis prohibition, you will not look back with regret either. Stan White, Dillon, Colorado [end]
I'm sure Larry Comeau means well (Letter: Hazy Policy, Oct. 26, 2016), however, cannabis (marijuana) is not a "drug" or "narcotic." If Comeau were to hold cannabis in his hand, he'd see it's a green plant. There's no evidence cannabis is responsible for increased traffic deaths in Washington state. Implying lies, half-truths and propaganda regarding cannabis doesn't make them true. It is commendable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ending cannabis prohibition in Canada. Colorado successfully re-legalized cannabis for adults and every subsequent poll indicates Colorado citizens continue supporting the end of cannabis prohibition. There is every reason to believe when Canada ends cannabis prohibition, the majority will not look back with regret either. Stan White Dillon, Colorado (The tide is shifting that way.) [end]
Re: Marijuana strategy missing (Letters, Oct. 26) I'm sure Malina Hedgecock means well, however, cannabis (marijuana) prohibition must be put behind us. The majority of North Americans are through with caging and punishing responsible adults who wish to use the relatively safe, God-given plant. At this point, the strategy is to end one of North America's worst policy failures in history as soon as possible. It is commendable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ending cannabis prohibition in Canada. Colorado successfully legalized cannabis for adults, and every subsequent poll indicates Colorado citizens continue supporting the end of cannabis prohibition. There is every reason to believe that when Canada ends cannabis prohibition, the majority will not look back with regret either. Stan White Dillon, Col. [end]
In response to the Sunday commentary, "High-risk proposal": Cannabis prohibitionist, Dr. R.J. Petrella, echoed the prohibitionist government's lies, half-truths and propaganda right on queue but added enough additional discredited claims to make one believe that re-legalizing the plant equates to the end of the world. I'd like to say Colorado voters heard it all before and voted, but Dr. Pertella went over the top in a way that is just plain preposterous. One example is his rants about cannabis and cancer, which is interesting since cannabis has never caused a single case of cancer in more than 5,000 years of documented use. Compare that to cigarettes, which kill more than 1,000 Americans daily. A sane or moral argument to continue punishing responsible adults who choose to use the relatively safe, God-given plant simply doesn't exist. Stan White Dillon, Colo. [end]
Editor: All Huff And Puff (Oct. 20, 2016) was one of the more informative articles I've read regarding RE-legalizing cannabis (marijuana) in Nevada. Colorado citizens heard all the cannabis prohibitionist rhetoric and voted and every subsequent poll indicates citizens continue supporting the end of cannabis prohibition. There is every reason to believe when Nevada citizens end cannabis prohibition, you will not look back with regret either. It's time for America to stop caging responsible adults for using the relatively safe God-given plant cannabis. A sane argument to continue cannabis prohibition doesn't exist. Stan White Dillon, Colorado [end]
Regarding ending cannabis prohibition, as referenced in the Oct. 19 Bonanza article, "Election 2016: To legalize marijuana in Nevada or to not legalize," Colorado citizens heard it all before and voted. Every subsequent poll indicates citizens continue supporting the end of cannabis prohibition and there is every reason to believe when Nevada (and California) citizens end cannabis prohibition, you will not look back with regret either. To expose just one aspect of the farce: When, "Seventy-five percent of people in the Washoe County rehab centers are in there for marijuana abuse," voters should ask, how many are there who honestly need rehab vs. those who are there to avoid going to jail? Then ask Mr. Jason Guinasso, "For whose benefit?" It's time for America to stop caging responsible adults for using the relatively safe God-given plant cannabis. A sane argument to continue cannabis prohibition doesn't exist. Stan White Dillon, Colorado [end]
I was pleased to read the CN&R's endorsement of Prop. 64, legalizing cannabis (marijuana). While polls predicting election results regarding cannabis seem to indicate it will pass, one poll is spot-on that voters can count on. In Colorado, every subsequent poll indicates citizens continue supporting the end of cannabis prohibition. There is every reason to believe when California citizens end cannabis prohibition, you will not look back with regret either. Stan White Dillon, Colo. [end]
Tom Hellmann ("Pot OK Would Be "Pouring Gasoline On The Fire," Voices, Oct. 21) is mistaken to believe Colorado has "regrets" regarding cannabis (marijuana) and our end to cannabis prohibition. Every subsequent poll indicates citizens continue supporting the end of that quagmire. There is every reason to believe when Nevada citizens end cannabis prohibition, citizens will not look back with regret either. It's time for America to stop caging responsible adults for using the relatively safe God-given plant cannabis. Stan White, Dillon, Colorado [end]
Re: "Colorado Amendment 71 tries to cut down on constitutional red tape," Oct. 4. I disagree with (County Commissioner) Dan Gibb's claim that Summit County voters "don't have a say" regarding the initiative process. Further, stating Amendment 71 has bipartisan support neglects the fact that opposition to Amendment 71 also enjoys bipartisan support, but more importantly includes the private sector, which is the vast majority of voters, rather than a list of inconvenienced politicians. One of the clearest examples of potential harm Amendment 71 may cause comes from realizing it could have prevented Colorado voters from ending cannabis prohibition. Summit County and other rural mountain communities played an important part in that successful initiative process and we should continue having access to it, left unchanged, for when politicians fail citizens. Nationally, politicians either ignore this important issue or fight against it, frustrating the majority of citizens who want to end cannabis prohibition. [continues 409 words]
To the Editor, It's commendable to keep youth away from drugs (From "Yes 2 Know", March 24), however, parents should closely monitor RCMP Drug Awareness programs to insure their children receive the truth, which is the most important component to protecting kids from drug use. DARE has been eliminated in most school districts because government statistics prove it's not only a failure but it may be causing more drug use than no anti-drug program at all. How many citizens tried cannabis and found it to be safer than what DARE claimed and believed other substances must not be so bad either, only to find them addicted to hard drugs? That's one reason North America is experiencing increased heroin addiction and death rates. A sane or moral argument to continue to lie about cannabis doesn't exist. Stan White, Dillon, Colorado [end]
If "reason and honesty" were part of the public discourse regarding cannabis (marijuana) prohibition (Letter: "Marijuana misinformation," by Bob Alley, April 3, 2016), it would never have been orchestrated from the beginning. Historically, its existence is due to racism, greed and the omission of science. It's truly mistaken to claim, "Medical science has access to drugs that provide more relief with less damage than does pot," since cannabis often competes with opiates, which are responsible for an epidemic of addiction and death rates in America. Scientifically, cannabis is safer than aspirin and less addictive than coffee. [continues 64 words]
