SOCIETY NO SAFER

Dear Editor:

Whose interests are being looked after by sending Mike Patriquen to jail for
six years for marijuana sales and usage?

I can assure you that I, my wife, my children and society as a whole are no
safer as a result of the court's most disturbing attitude. The courts did,
in this case, what they are designed to do, and that is to protect the "good
ole boys' club."

Both my parents and many of my friends met their demise after using alcohol
and only alcohol.

I, myself, spent years on "skid row" and it sure wasn't for smoking
marijuana. I went to the most dangerous and hardest drug on the market right
away: alcohol.

I never met anyone on skid row nor in the many jails that I frequented
during my 10-year tenure, who was there for using marijuana.

I am truly at a loss as how to explain this court decision to my children.
Please do not say that it is the law and it must be obeyed as any
intelligent person knows that this drug law is designed to protect special
interest groups such as police departments (jobs) and breweries (profits).

More important than both my and Mr. Patriquen's experiences are the valiant
efforts of both friends and clients dying from cancer, multiple sclerosis,
etc. who are being denied a medicine that can unequivocally give some
benefit. This in itself is a crime against humanity and is much more serious
than anything that Mr. Patriquen did.

For the record, I have never met Mr. Patriquen. Incidentally, I have been
sober now for 20 years and have achieved a university degree in the social
sciences. These two experiences combined make me as informed on this issue
as anyone.

Randy Carter, Head Jeddore