MARIJUANA EDITORIAL USED 'UNSUBSTANTIATED RHETORIC'

The April 21 editorial, "Bill to legalize marijuana just a waste of
time," stated: "People don't smoke pot now because it is illegal, and
that usage would skyrocket if the law changed."

The same day, the news also carried an article about Portland Democrat
Rep. Diane Russell's introduction of marijuana legalization.

That reminded me of the fear-mongering in the movie "Reefer Madness."
Back then, this same kind of rubbish was reported and led to the
Marijuana Tax Act of 1938. Neither is close to the truth.

Amsterdam, where marijuana is legally sold and tolerated, has a
smaller percentage of marijuana smokers than America.

Maybe the number of marijuana users might increase (skyrocket?), but
for the reason that many past and current smokers have chosen to not
stand up to be counted and arrested.

The editors' friends and neighbors might surprise them when they came
out of their smoky closets.

The paper's other points have credibility, but I would be pleased if
the writer refrained from canned, unsubstantiated rhetoric and do some
basic research first, but didn't.

Russell's introduction of marijuana legalization is a step in the
right direction, and it has my support but I would be more pleased to
see the federal Marijuana Tax Act repealed.

That would be a big step toward a healthier, cleaner America. I'd love
to see Maine take the lead in this effort.

Cannabis hemp has been used for thousands of years for food, clothing
and paper, in cultures around the world. In early America, laws
required it to be grown. For reference, history about hemp and
marijuana can be found in Jack Herer's "The Emperor Has No Clothes."

Dean Dewitt

China Village