MINORITY REPORT

Rich Thurlow (PVT June 26) is too soft on the pot warriors. The legislative
reasons given for outlawing marijuana:

"There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the U.S., and most are
Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their satanic music, jazz
and swing result from marijuana use. This marijuana can cause white women
to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others."

"The primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races."

"Marihuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on
white men's shadows and look at a white woman twice." (Hearst newspapers
nationwide, 1934)

"Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity,
criminality and death."

"Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind."

"[Smoking] one [marihuana] cigarette might develop a homicidal mania,
probably to kill his brother."

Propaganda to outlaw marijuana (is) so ridiculous that the proper response
to the term "marijuana crime" would be gales of hilarious laughter aimed at
the proponent of marijuana prohibition, except for the fact that putting
people in jail for "Reefer Madness" is no joke.

There was never any good reason to outlaw marijuana in 1937 and there is no
good reason now.

Redford Givens

San Francisco