Pubdate: Tue, 17 May 2016
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA)
Copyright: 2016 Chico Enterprise-Record
Contact:  http://www.chicoer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861
Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority
Author: William R. Todd-Mancillas

LET THE MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION DEBATE BEGIN

Can you imagine the following people agreeing on anything: Pat 
Robertson, former Denver lead felony prosecutor Titus Peterson, Ron 
Paul, Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, retired L.A. Deputy Chief of 
Police S. Downing, John McCain, Bill Gates, Bob Kerry, former Chief 
Justice John Paul Stevens, Koch brothers, George Soros, former 
Surgeon General Joceylin Elders, former Secretary of State George 
Schultz, Senator Rand Paul, California Attorney General Kamala 
Harris, Bill O'Reilly, Nancy Pelosi, former Seattle Chief of Police 
Norman Stamper, Dr. Andrew Weil, Milton Friedman, Connecticut 
Governor Malloy, Newt Gingrich, Walter Cronkite, California Lt. 
Governor Gavin Newsom?

Given the diversity of their opinions on so many issues, you might 
think they do not agree on anything. Actually, they do. Every one of 
them favors legalizing cannabis (marijuana).

When this many leaders from so many diverse perspectives agree on 
something as dear and controversial as ending Prohibition, we should 
pay attention to what they have to say.

We will in November likely be voting on the Adult Use of Marijuana 
Act. This is obviously an initiative of importance to most of us, one 
necessitating community discussion. Writing letters to the editor is 
an excellent vehicle for exchanging opinions.

Presently, under federal statute, cannabis is classified as a drug 
that is without therapeutic value and highly addictive, therefore 
warranting severe sanctions. To start off our discussion, I suggest 
we consider the evidence supporting these claims.

- - William R. Todd-Mancillas, Chico
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom