Pubdate: Sun, 15 Oct 2006
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Section: West Magazine
Copyright: 2006 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1267/a07.html
Author: Peter K. DeCamp

RETURNING TO 'GRASS ROOTS'

I agree with Dan Neil. I'm not surprised that baby boomers are
returning to their "grass roots." If an otherwise responsible adult
chooses to decompress after a long day or on the weekends, what's the
harm? Has our government's war on drugs curbed our appetite for pot?
Apparently not.

So why not change our approach to reflect the opinion of a large
majority of adults, who understand that "reefer madness" would not
result if pot were decriminalized? The danger would be that perhaps 6%
to 8% of the population might prefer smoking a bud over buying a
six-pack of Bud. Maybe a few bong rips before bed work better for them
than pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, in our free market economy,
there's no place for a product that can be produced for free in one's
backyard.

Peter K. DeCamp

Los Angeles
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake