'REEFER MADNESS' IN AMERICA

Let me see if I've got this straight. The Supreme Court ruled that
sick people can be prosecuted for using medical marijuana even in
states where voters approved its use.

The federal government claims marijuana has no medical value, but
supplies it to seven people for medical reasons, and has for more than
20 years. Most of these privileged seven live in states that have not
approved medical marijuana.

The DEA said that it isn't in the business of locking up sick people
and doesn't really plan to enforce the law. The FDA continually blocks
marijuana research efforts. Five hundred of the nation's top
economists, including Noble Prize winner Milton Friedman, recommend
total marijuana legalization, taxation and regulation.

Finally, President Bush must have had some medical need in his past,
at least according to Doug Wead ["Friend taped Bush before 2000 vote
- -- Secret recordings played for reporter," Feb. 2 Courier-Journal].

Yes, reefer madness is alive and well in America. When are our leaders
going to step up and do the right thing?

It's neither compassionate nor conservative to deny sick people a
natural substance that makes them feel better.

Incarcerating non-violent marijuana users (whether it's medicinal or
recreational use) is a waste of limited police resources and the
taxpayers' money. Blocking research on a plant that has documented
medical benefits screams of Dark Ages scientific practices. Collecting
urine to snoop into people's private lives, and implying they are
impaired on Monday for what they did on Saturday, is a disgrace to the
Fourth Amendment and the hemp paper it's written on.

All national polls show 75 percent of Americans support medical use of
marijuana and 35 percent support total legalization. Let your
representatives know how you feel. Let's stop the madness and get it
straight.

TOM RECTOR

Prospect, Ky. 40059