A SENSIBLE MARIJUANA POLICY

The Supreme Court has just further eroded states' rights. The feds now
officially have the right to arrest and prosecute chronically ill people
living in states whose voters have approved the use of medical marijuana. So
much for being a republic.

In spite of the fact that Canada has approved a cannabis-based inhaler for
multiple sclerosis (Sativex, made by a British company), and ever more
enlightened countries throughout the world have recognized the medicinal
value of the plant, our government continues to insist that it is in the
same category of evil as heroin.

At a time when poor people are being driven to bankruptcy to pay for
prescription medicines for pain (medicines that are highly addictive,
replete with dangerous side effects and often ineffective), they now will
run the risk of being declared felons and being sent to prison for the
heinous crime of growing or using a very effective, nonaddictive, natural,
God-given medicinal plant that costs them nothing.

But that is the real objection, after all: Big drug companies make no money,
and the government collects no taxes on such usage. Legalization might even
eat into the profits and tax revenues from the really big money cow:
alcohol.

Our federal legislators should stand up and create a sensible drug policy
instead of being scared stupid of being labeled "soft on drugs."

The government can:

- - Relieve prison overcrowding that results in violent criminals and
pedophiles being released.

- - Make tons of money to fight truly dangerous drugs, such as heroin, crack
and meth.

- - Remove one "gateway" to vendors of those dangerous drugs.

- - Make sure nobody buys marijuana laced with something worse.

- - Stop sending relative innocents to crime college.

Here's how: Decriminalize marijuana, and regulate and tax it through
government-controlled sales in government-owned stores.

Kathy Lewis

Sarasota