CRIMINAL PENALTIES

Reading the accusations against Chris Corker (Cheap Seats, "Illegal
Batter," 4/26) makes me wonder if his name will go down in criminal history
next to Dillinger and Capone. Good grief, the lad was--gasp!--baking
marijuana brownies!

One can only wonder what hysteria inspires such fear and loathing in
schools, police, and court officials who are taking the matter seriously.
Could Spotsylvania County's William F. Neely's zeal to convict another
marijuana "criminal" be provoked by notions like:

- - "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 effects 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 [marijuana] cigarette might develop a homicidal mania,
probably to kill his brother"?

Or has the state of Virginia invented some new lies to justify five- to
30-year prison sentences for marijuana "felonies"?

The cops and courts in Fredericksburg must not have any rapes, armed
robberies, kidnappings, child molestings, or murders to deal with, since
they have so much time to waste on inane marijuana trials.

Redford Givens

San Francisco