JUSTICE UP IN SMOKE

Re "Marijuana martyr," editorial, Feb. 6: The Ed Rosenthal case again shows
the importance of returning a fully informed jury to its appropriate place
in the justice system.

Juries must know that they have the right to judge the law itself (jury
nullification) and be made aware of relevant facts and issues, in this case
the 10th Amendment. This was the reason for juries of one's peers, and not
government professionals.

We should ask, even before jury service, why so much of our money is spent
on the government "war" against marijuana. Heroin and cocaine have
significantly more harmful effects, but the focus is always on marijuana,
which has never been proven by unbiased study to be either addictive or a
health risk. The benefits for many seriously ill patients is beyond question.

I look forward to a time when juries won't need to feel regret at
convicting someone under the government's idea of "justice."

- - Gene Frazier, Sacramento Vice chairman, Libertarian Party of Sacramento
County