DISAPPOINTED BY REACTION TO 215

To the editor:

In November 1996, it was quite disappointing to find that our
community is so brainwashed by our drug warriors that only half of the
registered voters voted yes on proposition 215 to allow "seriously ill
Californians with a doctor's recommendation" access to medical marijuana.

It was frightening to find one year after the initiative became H&S
11362.5 to hear that our former local sheriff, Ed Williams, insisted
that the citizens who attempted to work with the board of supervisors
and local law enforcement were "marijuana dealers" and compared them
to murderers. (The Looming Pot war, Telegram-Tribune, Nov. 3 1997)

It is inexcusable that our Deputy District Attorney, who supposedly
specializes in 11362.5, has publicly shown his ignorance by stating
that this law only covers possession. ("Atascadero eyes ban on pot
clubs, Aug 21).

The law states, in plain English, "possesses or cultivates
marijuana".

Your overly complicated correction of Aug. 26 leads me to believe that
neither you nor Mr. Schloss has taken 5 minutes to actually read the
text of the law.

Jo-De Harrison [sic!]
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
San Luis Obispo

Checked-by: Patrick Henry