READERS SOUND OFF ON POT ISSUE

I've been following this marijuana question for the last 35 years. It's
occurred to me that not only should marijuana be legal, but it should have
never been made illegal in the first place.

The United States government has been slandering marijuana for the better
part of 66 years.

The question about marijuana vs. tobacco and alcohol? President Nixon's
commission back in 1972, a panel made up of conservative Republicans, found
that marijuana was relatively harmless and not a detriment to society.

And that panel recommended (to) decriminalize (it). Of course, Nixon ignored
his own panel's recommendation, as did Congress, because this whole issue is
fixed.

In 1999, the Institute of Medicine affirmed scientific data indicating
potential therapeutic value of cannabis drugs for pain relief, control of
nausea and vomiting and appetite stimulation.

Edward Alan Hall Chicago