BASIS OF LAWS ANTIQUATED

To the Editor:

Re: Pot farms thrive despite best CAMP efforts (editorial, Aug. 15)

Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) enforces marijuana laws
based on absurd lies: "Marijuana influences Negroes to look at white
people in the eye, step on white men's shadows and look at a white
woman twice." (Hearst newspapers nationwide, 1934)

"There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the U.S., and most are
Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music,
jazz and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana can cause
white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and
any others."

"The primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races."

"Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity,
criminality and death."

"Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind."

"[Smoking] one [marijuana] cigarette might develop a homicidal mania,
probably to kill his brother." (see U.S. Government Propaganda to
Outlaw Marijuana, 1937: www.druglibrary.org/ schaffer/hemp/taxact/t3.htm)

Besides pursuing an insanely purposeless and futile endeavor, CAMP
represents a great threat to the environment. Flying helicopters into
national forests during fire season can easily cause a repeat of
August 2002 Pines Fire in eastern San Diego County that destroyed
more than 54,000 acres of forest, burned more than 30 homes and 92
buildings - barns, sheds and other outbuildings. The cost of fighting
this fire started by a CAMP helicopter hitting a power line exceeded
$30 million.

While law enforcement teams exult over helicopter joyrides into
Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, nearby residents worry that their
homes will be burned to the ground by this foolishness.

Does it need be said that no one would grow marijuana in national
forests if it were legal?

Ralph Givens

Daly City