Regarding the recent arrest in New Zealand of 66-year-old Progressive
Insurance CEO Peter B. Lewis for drug possession:

I hope the public realizes that even highly successful businessmen can
use marijuana with no more harm to themselves than that of arrest.

The only unfortunate fact is that many of those arrested every 49
seconds for marijuana use or possession in this country (the National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws' figure, based on
government statistics), cannot afford to buy off the U.S. legal system
as Lewis appears to have done in New Zealand.

When will the populace start to learn that marijuana prohibition is a
counterproductive fraud?

I look to the local media to be honest with the people, but the
misinformation and hysteria promulgated by the American government and
other self-interested parties since 1937 has created generations of
citizens who are only beginning to learn the truth thanks to the
Internet. I urge all, who possess open minds to consider the
information available at www.druglibrary.org www.norml.org
www.marijuananews.com There is pending legislation, under the guise of
a crackdown on methamphetamine, that could soon make all of the
information carried on these Web sites illegal to transmit.

Please go there while the First Amendment is still in
force.

Chris Joseph,
Parma