FEDS, GET OFF POT

Re: "Reefer madness" (Editorial, CN&R, Aug. 2):

America's citizens are under attack by their government. Obviously the
prohibition of cannabis has nothing to do with the safety or welfare
of the citizenry. The issue is social control. Nixon found the drug
war to be such an effective cudgel to wail on his political opponents
that his successors took note and have all pressed it up.

Why, after 70 years, does cannabis remain illegal? The roots of the
prohibition lie in racism: Blacks seducing white women with jazz music
and "muggles," along with Mexican invaders with their weird weed,
provided the backdrop for the initial prohibition. Presently the
"demon weed" remains identified with the counterculture of the past
century.

My congressman, Wally Herger, remains intransigent, obviously fearful
of being identified as limp on drugs--the same charge that led even
Bill Clinton to ramp up the drug war. Strange bedfellows, indeed.

Do we really believe in freedom and liberty, or have these become just
words that we print on our (fiat) money? Wise up, America! I echo your
editorial's sentiment: Legalize, tax and regulate cannabis just like
wine.

Jay Bergstrom

Forest Ranch

Editor's note: We received a number of letters on this issue from
beyond the North State