COMPARING GUNS TO POT SEEDS

RE "Letter of the Day," by Barry Banek (August 10): Barry Banek fails to
realize the difference between guns and seeds. Guns, when used properly,
eject a lead projectile that, when it comes into contact with the human
body, does terrible irreparable damage. A cannabis seed, on the other hand,
will make a plant grow. Guns kill people, and cannabis has save millions of
lives. Comparing guns to pot seeds suggests that Barry Banek may have
swallowed a few too many cans of Bud.

As a medial marijuana license holder and drug law reform activist, I also
resent the term "pothead". It is a derogatory term, much like any
derogatory term one would use for a certain race, religion, or gender. Why
is it still acceptable to use insulting terms for pot users, but not
blacks, women, or gays?

As for obeying laws, the laws against cannabis (in this country, the U.S.,
or any country in the world), are unjust, wrong-minded, dangerous,
ineffective, and expensive. We are obligated as citizens to disobey unjust
laws. If no one ever broke unjust laws, then women and people of colour
would have no rights at all. And just like pot users are now, women and
people of colour were at one time, not even considered "people."

I am glad people like Banek aren't running things, or we'd all still be
living in caves.

Russell Barth

(We aren't persuaded by your claim that drug use is morally equivalent
to sex, race or sexual preference, and that's just for starters)