THE EFFECTS OF POT PROHIBITION

Re "Growing pains" (Greenways, by Shannon Rooney, Dec.
3):

Every one of the problems that you point out is a direct result of
marijuana prohibition. Don't blame [Proposition] 215 for these
problems; blame the federal government for attacking the legal
patients who are trying to follow the law. Why would you ever grow in
your house if the feds come in and take it from you and put you in
prison?

The reason that you get bad people growing in the forest is, who else
would risk their freedom? They at least have a chance to not go to
prison when they grow on public land. Prohibition does not work.

As far as the facts go: In 2003, Patent No. 6,630,507 was awarded to
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, asserting that
cannabinoids are neuro-protectants and anti-inflammatory agents,
useful in the prevention and treatment of stroke, trauma, autoimmune
disorders, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and HIV dementia, as well as many
other diseases.

The AMA came out and said that marijuana should be removed from
Schedule 1. If we let facts, not lies, make the choice, then marijuana
would be legal already, but people seem to think that their
misinformation is true.

Marijuana has been medicine in the world for more than 5,000 years.
Read The Emperor Wears No Clothes and see what the truth really is. It
has documented facts, not hearsay and hatred. The most dangerous thing
about marijuana is prison.

James Stacy

Vista

Editor's note: For the record, the American Medical Association has
recommended that classifying marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug be
reconsidered. It has not made a recommendation on how it should be
scheduled.