THE CASE FOR CANNABIS

It was a breath of fresh air to read former judge Ray Warren's July 20
Point of View piece on the preposterousness of U.S. statutes on
marijuana. Too few individuals in power, and ever fewer in the justice
system, muster the courage to speak out against the destructive
consequences of our country's marijuana laws. At UNC-Asheville, I have
been unable to even create a student chapter of NORML (National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws); such groups require
faculty members, and while many of UNCA's faculty disagree with
marijuana's criminal status, they will not publicly offer support for
fear of compromising their jobs.

Warren's article provides a glimmer of hope that perhaps someday,
authority figures will decide to change these twisted laws instead of
blindly enforcing them.

Laura Eshelman

Durham