WHAT PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM

When The Law Plays Doctor

With respect to the June 21 letter, "What about Marinol?" I find it
unlikely that a "retired resident" agent in charge of the Drug
Enforcement Administration's Lubbock and Amarillo offices is ignorant
of the existence of vaporizers, or the brownies, cookies, teas and
tinctures that can be made from cannabis, or marijuana hemp.

Even if smoked, pot is ingested far more safely per dose than almost
all approved medications or intoxicants, yet is classified in a
stricter category than crack or even powder cocaine. In a typical
example of how industry buys politics to trump science, the only legal
but synthetic version of one of cannabis' active ingredients is
classified less stringently, yet is uncomfortably stronger than many
of the most powerful ganja strains.

Exactly as during last century's alcohol prohibition, hypocrisy and
corruption are rampant among drug warriors, who earn otherwise
unlikely pensions, pay and profits instead of fighting real crime or
protecting the people against the pill-pushers who bought our
politicians.

Just saying "no" is lying. Any questions?

JOSE MELENDEZ

Communications Director

Concerned Citizens Coalition to Criminalize Prohibition

DeLand, Fla.