Pubdate: Sat, 08 Sep 2012
Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA)
Copyright: 2012 Times-Standard
Contact: http://www.times-standard.com/writeus
Website: http://www.times-standard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1051
Author: Buford C. Terrell
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n439/a04.html

ILLEGAL MARIJUANA ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE

Your article on the environmental damage from illegal marijuana 
growing (" 'A huge, huge mess'," Times-Standard, Sept. 2, Page A1) 
was good as far as it went.

However, you overlooked the real issue: that damage is not caused by 
the marijuana, but by the laws prohibiting it.

Do we see these problems in broccoli fields? Do tomato farmers abuse 
their lands in these ways?

The same kinds of damage occurred at bootlegging still during alcohol 
prohibition and at the cocaine plantations in Colombia. We see this 
damage at the labs of home-made meth, not at the pharmaceutical 
plants that produce meth under the name Desoxyn for prescription to 
children with ADHD.

Legalize marijuana and let honest, law-abiding farmers replace the crooks.

Buford C. Terrell

Professor of law (ret.)

Stafford, Texas
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