JUST SAY YES!

The article "Old Greens, Green Dems" [April 27] misinforms the public
yet again about drugs and what is said. "Thornton is as Green as they
come, calling for the decriminalization of cannabis, which, he says,
would free up $200 million for the state to spend on education and
health care"this statement is partially incorrect. I call for the
legalization of cannabis, not decriminalization. I have made it
perfectly clear where I stand on all illegal drugs.

Your staff seems as "green as they come" when discussing the issue of
illegal drugs and in the process misleading the public. The media
continually misconstrue the terms legalization, medicalization and
decriminalization . Each term would have a different effect if
applied separately. (America coins phrases or words that mean
different things to the rest of the world. Does "reverse
discrimination" mean anything to you? The rest of the world
understands it to mean no discrimination at all.)

Decriminalization means the law stays as is, but one would only
receive a fine for small amounts of given illegal substance. (Look at
what Mexico is doing with decriminalization and you will get it.) I
call for the outright legalization of cannabis and, along with it,
hemp, which is in the same family, and the medicalization of heroin,
cocaine, methamphetamines and ecstasy.

As to the statement "Like Lamont, he's been called a single-issue
candidate, and he didn't do much to dispel that notion"how can that
be, when the drug war is two degrees from everything in society? The
drug war affects the economy, since millions of dollars are laundered
through the stock market recall the lawsuits against Merrill Lynch
and many banks for laundering illegal drug profits that guarantee
politicians remain tough on crime. This is a potential tax resource.
Fifty percent of all HIV cases are spread by dirty needles from - you
guessed it - illegal drug users. I can go on, but I want this to be an
opening for true education about the biggest farce of the 20th and
21st century.

Remember alcohol prohibition and what a success that was?

Clifford Wallace Thornton Jr.

Hartford