AGE IS NOT A RESPONSIBILITY METER

As someone who has long questioned the wisdom in maintaining the
illegal status of hemp and marijuana, I find myself in the odd
position of thanking, with utmost sincerity, California's voters for
causing Proposition 19's failure.

Why legalize, yet limit? What's gained from only allowing any one
person 25 square feet to grow? I understand regulating commercial
growers for tax purposes, but private growers? More importantly,
industrial hemp falls under these same guidelines. The fibers, seeds,
and oils from hemp can be used for nutritional supplements, clothing,
plastics, building materials, and even automobile fuel. We can save
more of our forest, build cheaper, more efficient homes, revitalize
the agricultural industry, and completely eliminate our dependence on oil.

Another major flaw in the bill was the imposition of a minimum legal
age. Not only that, but they chose the completely arbitrary age of
21. The drinking age is only 21 because of lobbyists (thanks for
nothing MADD) claiming it would lower drunk driving. I'm 19; will
someone please explain to why it's fine for me to be shot while
defending a piece of parchment written by the dead racist power elite
(who by the way grew and smoked hemp), but hitting a joint with my
friends poses some kind of health risk? I defy anyone to explain how
my mental state would be worse off from marijuana than PTSD.

So try, try again. Let's just tax the commercial uses, and otherwise
legalize it completely. Age is not a responsibility meter.

Sky Adams

McKinleyville