Pubdate: Sun, 17 Nov 2002 Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY) Copyright: 2002 St. Lawrence County Newspapers Corp Contact: http://www.ogd.com/letter.htm Website: http://www.ogd.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/689 Author: Larry Seguin NOTE: Accepts LTEs by mail only! Must be signed w/phone# Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02.n2084.a10.html MARIJUANA USE To the editor: We tolerate responsible alcohol use. It is time to tolerate responsible marijuana use. A TIME magazine poll showed that 72% oppose jailing responsible marijuana users. (Will Drugs be tolerated? Nov. 10 2002). The voters spoke very clearly on the legalizing marijuana initiatives. In Nevada 39% voted to end prohibition of marijuana. In Arizona 43% voted to end marijuana prohibition. There was no landslide 'against' legalization and one year ago it was at only 28% for decriminalizing. In Massachusetts Nineteen local advisory measures urging marijuana decriminalization all have passed, most with overwhelming margins. A local advisory measure supporting medical marijuana and another endorsing hemp cultivation passed easily as well. In Maryland, Medical marijuana supporter Bob Ehrlich was elected governor. Good chance on a medical marijuana bill being passed in Maryland next year. San Francisco voters passed Proposition S by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. Placed on the ballot by four members of the city Board of Supervisors after a wave of federal raids on medical marijuana dispensaries, the measure asked voters if the city should explore growing and distributing marijuana for seriously ill patients. Now that voters have responded with a resounding "YES," it will be up to the Board of Supervisors to implement that mandate. Larry Seguin Lisbon, NY - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens