CAMPAIGN 2000: MEDICAL MARIJUANA, LIBERTARIANS "LEADING" THE PUBLIC Re: "Medical marijuana: No," Oct. 1 editorial. Your stand on medical marijuana proves a couple of things: 1. You're on the wrong side of the lost drug war. 2. You're way behind the general feeling of the public. 3. And, to your benefit, this proves that the "liberal" media that the Republicans constantly complain about, don't have the power to "lead" the public. Who cares if marijuana is effective? Hello - these people are dying. If someone thought smoking Gummi bears could help them, then let them do that! DIETER ZERRESSEN Denver ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRRATIONAL LAWMAKERS The flaws in Amendment 20, be they what they are, are directly related to the unwillingness of state and federal lawmakers to draft reasonable medical marijuana legislation on their own. If marijuana circumvents the normal prescription drug route, it is only because the federal government has refused to allow widespread testing of the drug and continues its indefensible Schedule I labeling of cannabis in general. Sometimes, the public has to draft whatever can work in the short term to overcome the stubborn and irrational intransigence of those who claim to lead us. Let's face it, Amendment 20 will win in November, and I will be proud to vote for it. A vote against Amendment 20 is a vote for continued unconscionable criminal prosecution of the sick and dying. JOHN CORBETT Highlands Ranch --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONSIDER BENEFITS The Post's editorial opposing Amendment 20, which would allow individuals with a debilitating condition to use medical marijuana, fails to mention two crucial reasons why citizens should support this ballot initiative. First, many Coloradans already are using medical marijuana. They needlessly face the threat of arrest and punishment on a regular basis. Amendment 20 would give them pro tection under state law. As The Post laments, it is unfortunate that many patients do not have a reliable supply of medical marijuana and must purchase it on the black market. But until we solve the supply issue, surely we shouldn't throw sick people in jail, should we? Second, the federal government has failed to deal with this issue in a reasonable manner, despite evidence that marijuana has medical benefits. That is the main reason this issue is now before the citizens of Colorado. Despite federal intransigence on this issue, almost 99 percent of marijuana arrests are made by state and local officials. Therefore, Amendment 20 will provide effective protection for Colorado patients who need to use medical marijuana. Additionally, a registry system maintained by the state health department will separate patients from recreational users, thus easing the burden on law enforcement. RICHARD SCHMITZ Washington, D.C. The author is director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project.
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