REDEFINING ORGANIZED CRIME

I recently read an interesting article in USA Today entitled "Denver
Weighs Proposal to Ease Marijuana Laws." I personally hope the
proposal passes. However, the article ended by the opponents of the
proposal saying, " ... all that money (used to buy medical marijuana)
goes to organized crime." That just ain't so.

Having a legal prescription for medical marijuana from a licensed,
practicing doctor in my home state for many years, I can say without
hesitation that the little money I spend for it doesn't go to
organized crime. It goes to a 61-year-old, 100-percent disabled
Vietnam veteran who lives on a little 40-acre farm in Arkansas, and
whose only other income is from a veterans' (VA) disability pension.
This individual is a church-going, God-fearing gentleman whom I have
known for years. He uses the money I spend to feed his family, buy
medicine and gas. It is spent locally in his community; it doesn't go
to some terrorist or drug lord.

It's always organized-crime this or terrorist that, when you see
something about marijuana. My thoughts are if you want to support
organized crime, just pay taxes! There is organized crime if there
ever was any! Your government, from grassroots to federal --
organized crime! And God bless 'em, sometimes not all that organized.

What about the oil company that can make $10 billion in 90 days, and
the government and the news just sweep it under the rug like it means
nothing? However, the government is after the poor ol' vet who sells
me $50 bucks worth of cannabis. What is wrong with this picture?

- -- B. Niewoehner

Marshall