ALLOW STATES ESTABLISH LAWS ON MARIJUANA

Mr. Evans' "In this prohibition saga, Obama plays Herbert Hoover"
contains one factual error. The Jones Act became law in 1929 when
Coolidge signed it two days before leaving office.

It also contains one error of omission, he limits his advocacy to
freeing each state "to enact, implement and enforce their own medical
marijuana laws." Why stop there? Barney Frank with Ron Paul as the
first co-sponsor proposes the equivalent of the 21st Amendment for
cannabis in HR 2306 the "Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of
2011" As I write, 19 other members of the House are co-sponsors.
Michael Capuano is the only other member of the Massachusetts
delegation among them.

Each state should decide how far it wants to go in allowing
cultivation and commerce in cannabis, not just for the medicinal
properties found mostly in the leaves and flowers, but for the
consciousness altering power, its nutritious seeds, seed oil, fiber
for textiles and cordage, and inner stalk, almost pure cellulose, an
industrial feedstock from which to make methanol, paper, and products
made from wood, oil, coal and natural gas. It is as an
environmentally friendly feedstock that it will most benefit humanity
by creating jobs and wealth.

STEVEN S. EPSTEIN,

Georgetown