LETTER OF THE WEEK

YES ON 44

By Laura Kriho

Colorado was the first state to vote to repeal alcohol prohibition in
1932, and we have the chance to be the first state to vote to repeal
cannabis (marijuana) prohibition with the passage of Amendment
44. In 1932, forward-thinking Colorado citizens put an initiative on
the ballot to repeal alcohol prohibition. It passed with 56 percent
of the vote.

However, in 1937, Congress enacted cannabis prohibition via the
Marijuana Tax Act. Cannabis prohibition created a new black market
in cannabis, which has led to the same violence and corruption seen
in the alcohol prohibition era. It also gave rise to government
agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration, which not only
uses your tax dollars to arrest and imprison nonviolent cannabis
users, but also actively campaigns for cannabis prohibition in our
democratic elections.

In more than 10,000 years of almost constant human use, cannabis has
never caused a single overdose. It is safer than aspirin and has
many more medicinal uses. In 1988, the DEA's chief administrative
law judge called it the "safest therapeutically active substances
known to man." Cannabis, like alcohol, should be legal for adults to
use in the privacy of their own home for recreation as well as
medicine. It is prohibition that causes harm to society, not the substance.

Alcohol prohibition only lasted from 1920 to 1933, a mere 13 years.
Cannabis prohibition has lasted an amazing 69 years. Why has it taken
so long to learn, again, that prohibition doesn't work?

In 2005, Denver voters ended cannabis prohibition for small amounts
possessed by adults in the city. In 2006, Colorado voters have the
chance to do the same thing. Let's uphold our proud tradition as a
bellwether state and be the first state to vote to repeal cannabis
prohibition and end this failed policy. Bring your friends to the
polls on Nov. 7, and vote YES on 44.

Laura Kriho

Nederland

Pubdate - Thu, 12 Oct 2006

Source - Boulder Weekly (CO)