Pubdate: Tue, 18 Feb 2003
Source: Jewish Bulletin (CA)
Copyright: 2003, San Francisco Jewish Community Publications Inc.
Contact:  http://www.jewishsf.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2771
Note: Letters may not exceed 200 words.
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced:  http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n203/a01.html

REEFER MADNESS?

Few Americans realize that the United States may soon be one of the few 
Western countries that uses its criminal justice system to punish otherwise 
law-abiding citizens who prefer marijuana to martinis. Evidence of the U.S. 
government's reefer madness is best exemplified by the kangaroo-court trial 
of Jewish marijuana advocate Ed Rosenthal (Feb. 7 Bulletin).

By denying an officer of the City of Oakland the right to use California's 
medical marijuana law and the U.S. Constitution's 10th Amendment protection 
of states' rights as a defense, the judge foisted a predetermined guilty 
verdict onto a grossly misinformed jury.

The federal government's paramilitary raids on voter-approved medical 
marijuana providers in California says a lot about our government's bizarre 
sense of priorities. The very same federal government that claims illicit 
drug use funds terrorism is forcing cancer and AIDS patients into the hands 
of street dealers.

Apparently, marijuana prohibition is more important than protecting the 
country from terrorism.

ROBERT SHARPE

program officer

Drug Policy Alliance

Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens