MARIJUANA PROVIDES FEDS WITH JOBS, CASH

While legitimate concerns prevail among patients and dispensaries
involving the reliability of California's medical marijuana ID card
program, a thorough discussion of the ongoing confusion must include
the motives behind the federal government's refusal to cooperate with
the state.

The federal government's stance hinders medical research, stalls
meaningful legislation and clings to marijuana prohibition. Repealing
marijuana prohibition allows all states to comply with approved
medical protocol and accepted standards of distribution for medical marijuana.

Why is the federal government stalling? According to FBI estimates,
upward of 80 percent of all drug arrests are exclusively marijuana:
Taking marijuana out of the drug war equation leaves 3 million to 4
million addicts of heroin, cocaine or meth.

Irreconcilable state and federal anti-marijuana forces are left with
an inflated battle cry regarding authentic levels of addiction and
quantities of illegal drugs crossing our borders. Hence, the gateway
theory and the justification for a multibillion-dollar budget
literally go up in smoke along with the other unscientific claims the
government makes concerning marijuana.

The federal government is clearly addicted to marijuana prohibition;
consequently its policies reflect an indifference to the will of the
people and the medical necessity of patients.

John Wilson

Lafayette