LOBBY LEGISLATORS TO APPROVE HEMP, MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Of all the big-government abuses of Americans' constitutional
rights, the war on marijuana perpetrates some of the worst. "Asset
forfeitures" such as the Oakview Road resident suffered are, in my
opinion, little more than official looting, since they allow police
(and informants, who get a percentage) to seize growers' homes and
cash prior to a trial, with practically no oversight.

No wonder law enforcement lobbyists oppose every effort in North
Carolina to legalize industrial hemp or medical marijuana, despite
the abundant evidence of hemp's utility and environmental benefits,
marijuana's lifesaving medicinal qualities for many patients, and
the millions of dollars that the state would save and collect if
either form of cannabis were licensed or taxed.

WNC residents have an opportunity -- if we act immediately -- to
press our powerful Sen. Martin Nesbitt (Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net,
252-0490) to allow two medical-marijuana bills, HB 1380 and 1383, to
move forward in the legislative short session. Both bills would
allow patients access to marijuana with a signed statement from a
physician; growers and dispensaries would be licensed and regulated
by the state Department of Health and Human Services. HB 1383 would
allow voters to decide the issue by referendum. For details, see NC
Cannabis Patients' Network, nccpn.org.

Steve Rasmussen, Asheville