Thank you for the column on legalizing pot ("Here's the dope on why pot should be legal," @issue, Sept. 18). It is about time we get past the misconception that marijuana is an addictive gateway drug and so should be illegal. Marijuana just does not stand up when compared with our actual addictive, and most important, legal, drugs: cigarettes and alcohol. Why don't the feds want to get it? Get the nonviolent drug offenders out of our overcrowded prisons, put our tax money to use for what it was intended. Focus on getting criminals who really are a threat to the community at large off the streets and into treatment programs. CLAIRE GALLOWAY, Sugar Hill [end]
Medical marijuana activist Steve McWilliams handed out free samples of the drug outside San Diego City Hall yesterday to people who had a doctor's note saying they needed it. McWilliams said he was trying to draw attention to what he said was the city's delay in issuing identification cards to medical marijuana users. He said the city also needs to adopt guidelines on who should be allowed to grow marijuana for sick people and how much they could legally grow. [continues 402 words]
This is kind of embarrassing, so let me just spit it right out. I've never smoked pot. Not even once. I would have kept it a secret, but U.S. Rep. Rod Blagojevich has forced my hand. Blagojevich, the Democratic nominee for governor, became the latest politician this week to admit to reporters that he smoked pot in his youth. He said he did it twice but can't remember if he inhaled. The politicians are always concerned that somebody might hold it against them if they admit that they smoked pot. [continues 822 words]
The Taliban Is Gone, But Local Interests Keep the Afghan Drug Trade Alive Afghanistan's vaunted heroin trade is back -- and many of its proceeds are going to likely terror supporters as well as members of the incumbent government, experts told ABCNEWS. This month, the United Nations' Office of Drug Control Policy said in a report that preliminary surveys had confirmed "a major resurgence" of opium poppy cultivation in the Central Asian country. "It could be considerably high and considerably serious," said UNODCP spokesman Kemal Kurspahic. "We can assume that Afghanistan will resume its No. 1 spot at the production table." [continues 1089 words]
Dear Editor: Is M.E. Jollimore mistaken ("Jail for punishment," Sept. 12 letter), considering, "I don't believe in rewarding offenders for their crimes," while speaking about being allowed to use medications? Are there other doctor prescribed medications that Jollimore would prohibit, for cancer, AIDS, etc.? Taking medication should not be a privilege. Stan White, Dillon, Col. [end]
Defiant Demonstration Called Kind By Some, Criminal By Others SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Calling Santa Cruz a "sanctuary" from federal authorities, medical marijuana advocates - joined by city leaders - passed out pot Tuesday at City Hall to about a dozen sick and dying patients. "Santa Cruz is a special place, and today we're letting the world know how compassionate we can be," said Mayor Christopher Krohn. "We're taking a stand." More than 1,000 area residents jammed into the courtyard for a supportive demonstration during the giveaway. [continues 239 words]
The case against three Hells Angels accused of beating and robbing another man has collapsed amid claims their alleged victim concocted his story so he could use a witness protection program to escape drug dealers and erase his child-support debt. "The taxpayers of Canada may be appalled to learn how much public funds were expended either to or on behalf of this witness," defence lawyer Bill Tatarchuk said Tuesday. "A witness whose evidence is bought and paid for surely isn't as credible as one who comes forward for altruistic reasons." he added. [continues 385 words]
Noelle Bush was found with two grams of crack cocaine, which carries a five-year mandatory sentence. Mr. appointed president, I'll bet she won't go to prison. But you'll go after the sick and dying in California who need medical marijuana, and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. Where's the justice in that? BUSTER JONES, Columbus [end]
Provencher MP Vic Toews questions the results of the recent Senate report recommending the legalization of marijuana in Canada. The report, released last week, called for the government-licensed production and sale of marijuana to any Canadian citizen over the age of 16. "While I support a full and open public debate about marijuana use in Canada, the drastic step of full legalization is not viable, and it is not in line with the views of the majority of Canadians," Toews said in a statement on Tuesday. [continues 296 words]
Editor -- I cannot believe my eyes, when I read that Santa Cruz city officials actually flouted the federal government and the U.S. Constitution by their deliberate and defiant violations of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act ("Santa Cruz joint effort hands out medical pot," Sept. 18). Californians need to accept that they are only one state, that the U.S. Constitution is precedent over any and all rules and laws that groups of people, or states, enact upon others. In this nation, we must have faithfulness to Congress and the federal government. We must abide by laws and rules set by Congress, and if we don't agree with them the proper avenue is to use the process to change them. Defiance, for whatever reasons, is not acceptable. [continues 117 words]
Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Cal Skinner voluntarily walked into the "Past Marijuana Use Confessional" on Tuesday, but said not only did he not inhale--he didn't even know he was using pot until it was over. In one of the most bizarre marijuana revelations yet, the former Republican state representative admitted to reporters that he unwittingly tried marijuana about 20 years ago when someone cooked up a batch of pot brownies for him as a birthday present and didn't tell him about the secret ingredient. [continues 309 words]
NEPTUNE -(AP)- Four New Jersey school districts have been conducting drug residue tests at some of their schools for several months, but one has discontinued the practice because it found the testing kits to be unreliable. The Toms River Regional and Southern Regional districts in Ocean County began testing in January without notifying the public. The tests also were implemented in the East Windsor Regional and Mercer County Vocational districts, and also are used in other states. The testing is part of a federally funded pilot program that examines the effectiveness of the kits - long used by law enforcement agencies - within a school setting. At a cost of less than $1 each, the kit almost instantaneously detects trace amounts of marijuana, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine on a variety of surfaces. [continues 236 words]
