Pubdate: Sat, 06 Oct 2001 Source: Auburn Journal (CA) Copyright: 2001 Auburn Journal Contact: http://www.auburnjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/530 Author: Andrew Scott Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1547/a07.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) TAX LEAGUE MENTALITY GOES UP IN SMOKE I was disgusted by the article in the Journal regarding the Placer County Tax League's opinion on the marijuana arrests conducted by our sheriff's department. It appears the tax league has forged an alliance with marijuana criminals. An alliance founded in ignorance. The tax league used phrases like "quasi-legal" and "SWAT-team like" in describing the arrests of the marijuana growers. These are the same propaganda phrases marijuana extremists use to attempt to demonize legitimate, ethical, (and most offensive to the marijuana criminals) effective law enforcement. Worse, the tax league, and their leader Wally Reemelin, calls these arrests "nit-picky." I wonder how "nit-picky" it would be to Reemelin if someone in his family was killed or maimed by a driver stoned on marijuana. Is he aware that drivers high on drugs are 5-10 times more likely to be involved in a fatal auto accident than is a drunk driver? If his children or grandchildren were approached by marijuana dealers would he have the same cavalier attitude? Marijuana is a dangerous drug and the criminals who try to hide behind an illegitimate use of Prop 215 should be arrested. Prop 215 was never intended to let just anyone use and grow marijuana whenever they wanted. Nor was it designed to let medical marijuana users grow more plants than their medical needs may dictate (although, no major medical association recognizes marijuana as medicine). It seems the league decided to put financial considerations ahead of moral considerations. Andrew Scott, Lincoln - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk