Your headline"Gangs Bring Crime and Drugs to Abbotsford" is wrong. It is drug-prohibition laws that have brought gangs and crime to Abbotsford. Lee Eisenstein Pahoa, Hawaii [end]
Mahalo for Rich Figel's "Addicted to Life" column May 27 on successful Dutch drug policies that work. My wife and I have seen firsthand the social benefits that Dutch cannabis policy imparts on their society, and believe we should emulate that approach here. During our visit to Holland, we heard that there are large numbers of calls to police due to problems in the alcohol bars -- but they receive few, if any, calls from the cannabis coffee shops. For decades, I've read with dismay about the horrible consequences of the so-called "War on Drugs" in our local newspapers. I've often wondered if people here would ever be introduced to the world beyond the "red, white and blue curtain," with regard to a more pragmatic approach to the drug problem. [continues 61 words]
The dual news stories recently of the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs first endorsing the proposed Nevada ballot initiative to amend current marijuana laws and then reversing their stance following NCOPS President Andy Anderson's resignation made for a sad commentary. In the past 30 years, stringent and harsh criminal sanctions against responsible adult marijuana use have done nothing to reduce use. Rather they have helped create the largest criminal black market in the nation outside of arms and weapons. This criminal market helps fund more dangerous and violent activities which endanger not only police, but the public they serve. [continues 144 words]
On behalf of the patients, caregivers, physicians and voters in California who utilize and support our state's Compassionate Use Act of 1996, I offer thanks for David Broder's column questioning the Bush administration's escalating war on medical marijuana ("DEA marijuana madness," Nov. 11). Many of us view these actions as little different from the time in our early history when British troops were sent to take control over our forefathers who chose to exercise their God-given right to self-govern. It is unsettling to see this constitutionally-protected right so blatantly ignored (see Ninth and Tenth Amendments, Bill of Rights). Indeed, it is even more so a shame to see resources wasted on denying the suffering access to beneficial medicine while real threats to our safety are of such compelling concern to the citizenry. Watsonville, Calif. [end]
Editor: Outstanding letter by Mike Plylar, "Press Censorship," [Aug 1]. Our freedom, as well as our nation's place in history, depends on whether or not the counterproductive, fraudulent, "War on Drugs," is stopped. As a nation and as a society, we have been moved far away from the rest of the free world. We have been manipulated into waging a war against ourselves. A "Drug Free America" is a tyrannical, corrupt, police-prison state. Like, for instance, some of our international, "trading partners"...like, China... We must end the "War on Drugs." Now. [end]
Dear Editor, In your response to Robert Sharpe's factually correct and informed letter [Weed worth its weight in gold, Aug.7 Feature Letter, Langley Advance News], you state, "let's talk about the possibility of legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for recreational use." No, let's instead talk about full legalization, with sensible regulation; no sales to children, as in Holland. Marijuana does not cause "memory loss," according to a U.S. Institute of Medicine report on the subject. Peer reviewed research indicates that cannabis consumption improves mental functioning later in life. [continues 61 words]
Bravo to the Rock River Times for printing M. L. Simon's outstanding piece, "World War - America is losing its allies in the drug war" dated August 8th. The lack of accurate reporting about our democratic allies radically different and infinitely more effective drug policies in the U.S. press is truly shocking. Please keep up the great work. Here in the United States of America, freedom needs all the help it can get. Lee Eisenstein Watsonville, Calif. [end]
Dr. Jaime Cervantes exhibits classic symptoms of Inaccurate Information Syndrome, "Doctor Approaches Medicinal Marijuana With Caution" - Aug 7. Here are a few simple facts. Francis L. Young, Drug Enforcement Agency Administrative Judge stated in a report on cannabis, that it is one of the safest and least addictive substances known. Marijuana causes much less impairment than alcohol, numerous studies show. Synthetic THC is legal and sold under the trade name, Marinol. Peer reviewed research shows that cannabis has profound medical applications, (including but not limited to), curing or putting into remission two types of "fatal" cancers, slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis, stopping epileptic seizures, relieving asthma attacks, Attention Deficit Disorder and arthritis. What are the medical benefits of arresting people who consume this plant? Surely, Dr. Cervantes will address this public health issue in a future article to your paper. - - Lee Eisenstein Watsonville, CA. [end]
I would like to share some news for parents who plan on "drug testing" their children, "Putting parental suspicions to rest" July 24. Marijuana, the safest drug containing substance known to man, stays in the body and will show up in drug tests for over a month. This means that you will be able to tell, for at least a month, if your child has used, or been exposed to cannabis. Hard drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and alcohol are completely flushed from the body in less than two days. This means that your child could use hard drugs and only two days later produce a clean drug test! Young people are not stupid and since prohibition results in zero regulation, guess which drugs your kids will gravitate towards, once you start testing them? Congratulations! You are now pushing your children towards the use of hard drugs. Signed: Lee Eisenstein, Watsonville, CA [end]
Editor: Re your July 6 story: Controversial city bylaw could be in effect soon: Langley City council's enthusiasm for a policy based on police state coercion and terror, forcing citizens to spy on each other, is shocking. While this level of corruption and tyranny might be appropriate for Americans, (being a U.S.-based policy), I don't believe it represents the kind of society that the Canadian people desire for themselves. Lee Eisenstein, Watsonville, California [end]
To the editor: I'd like to take issue with Barry Gerding's statement regarding the medical effectiveness of cannabis when he says, "The scientific evidence, or lack of it, is far behind what most people themselves accept to be true or not true" in his editorial, "Proposed pot laws murky for all", July 9. In point of fact, dozens of peer reviewed studies now show that cannabis has profound medical applications. They include but are not limited to curing or putting into remission two types of fatal cancers, slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis, stopping epileptic seizures, relieving asthma attacks, attention deficit disorder and arthritis, as well as a study showing that whole cannabis is much more effective than "legal" marinol, a corporate product made from THC in an oil base. Interested readers should visit pottv.net, marijuananews.com and the Media Awareness Project mapinc.org for accurate information on this important issue. Lee Eisenstein, Watsonville, CA [end]
Regarding your quaint piece, "DARE critics have agenda to legalize marijuana" June 13, a few simple points should be made. First, credible, peer-reviewed studies have shown that DARE increases the likelihood of young people trying illegal drugs. Second, given Holland's rate of drug use is half of that in the United States and hard drug use among Dutch youth is one third the U.S. rate, one would certainly hope your headline's claim is in fact, accurate. Lee Eisenstein Watsonville, California [end]
To the Editor: Very good piece, "Time for Canada to go to pot?" (Hubert Beyer, May 31). Why not sell cannabis Dutch style, in "coffee shops?" Lee Eisenstein Watsonville, Calif. [end]
According to an article published in the Jerusalem Post on June 7, "Hashish found to be good for joints," a doctoral student at the Hebrew University's School of Pharmacy in Jerusalem has discovered that hashish can be effective as an anti-inflammatory drug for rheumatoid arthritis. For her work with hashish as a therapeutic agent, Susanna Tchilibon, a 32-year-old immigrant from Milan, has been named a winner of one of this year's Kaye Prizes for Innovations and Inventions at the university. The active agent, HU-320, is comparable to the known drug indomethacin, but without the known and considerable gastrointestinal side effects caused by that drug. Tchilibon added that use of hashish or marijuana has never been shown to cause those side effects. Lee Eisenstein, Watsonville [end]
I'd like make a correction to J.R. Labbe's generally excellent commentary, "Let's have rational discussion," regarding marijuana policy. Labbe is mistaken when she states that "Medical marijuana isn't going to save anyone's life." Marijuana-like drugs eradicated some brain cancers in rats and helped other animals live longer, according to a study published in the March issue of the journal Nature Medicine. Consider the case of adrenal cancer survivor Steve Kubby. According to Dr. Vincent DeQuattro, a University of Southern California professor and world authority on adrenal cancer, Kubby's blood shows lethal levels of adrenaline. Everyone who has ever had Kubby's disease has died within a few years. Thanks to medical marijuana, he is now entering his 23rd year of survival, something DeQuattro considers a "medical miracle." DeQuattro has written that the patient could suffer a heart attack or stroke if deprived of marijuana and that no other form of therapy is available. [continues 70 words]
Guy W. Farmer's states in his dishonest and morally repugnant piece, "Nevada lawmakers tackle medical marijuana," that voters, "saddled state lawmakers with a legal dilemma by approving a "medical marijuana" ballot initiative..." Frankly, Mr. Farmer, if Big Government, (in whose service you have worked), wasn't saddling the taxpayers and citizens with the vicious, counterproductive, fraudulent policy of marijuana prohibition, the voters wouldn't have to take matters into their own hands via the initiative process. For your information, peer reviewed research clearly shows that cannabis has profound medical applications, (including but not limited to), curing or putting into remission two types of "fatal" cancers, slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis, stopping epileptic seizures, relieving asthma attacks, Attention Deficit Disorder and arthritis. [continues 217 words]
We Thought Smoking Pot Made People Laid-Back And Complacent - But Apparently Not Dear Editor, Given the trivializing and misleading nature of Troy Landreville's column [Politicians gone to pot, April 6, Advance News], one thing stands out clearly. The people quoted from the Marijuana Party were intelligent, factually informed, and principled. It is the Langley Advance News, and not the Marijuana Party, who have their "heads in the clouds." Lee Eisenstein Watsonville, California Dear Editor, Troy Landreville uses the oldest trick in the book of persecutions in man's never-ending inhumanity to man: invalidation of others to validate oneself. [continues 393 words]
Regarding your Nov. 20 wire story, "Researchers intend to find out whether pot is good medicine," a simple point should be noted. Uninformed researchers, as well as interested readers, should visit both the Media Awareness Project, http://www.mapinc.org/ and http://www.marijuananews.com to become familiar with the large amount of research already done on medical pakalolo. They can read for themselves dozens of peer-reviewed studies showing that cannabis has profound medical applications, including but not limited to curing or putting into remission two types of cancers, slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis, stopping epileptic seizures, and relieving asthma attacks, attention deficit disorder and arthritis. [continues 87 words]
To state, "Today's pot is up to 2,500 times more potent," is absolutely insane. According to the RCMP, the average potency of Canadian marijuana is now 6%. But stronger marijuana is more desirable in many respects, meaning less inhalations -- a great benefit for medicinal users. Readers should visit Richard Cowen's outstanding website -- marijuananews.com -- for information on marijuana and marijuana prohibition. Your paper should do likewise, in order to see what accurate reporting looks like. Lee Eisenstein (Funny, we always thought it was those who were stoned who had troubles with reality.) [end]
As your article,"YOUR TAX DOLLARS HARD AT WORK" states so well, it is time for the public to speak up and demand an end to the fraudulant "Drug War". It is the one act that can save our country and our freedom. It is time to speak truth to power. Lee Eisenstein Watsonville, CA [end]
