Pubdate: Tue, 28 Dec 1999
Date: 12/28/1999
Source: Santa Barbara News-Press (CA)
Author: Elizabeth Burke

I was outraged when I read the recent article "Hemp Haul" in the Local
section of the News-Press.

Don't CAMP agents (Campaign Against Marijuana Planting) have anything
better to do? What a waste of time for such a stupid cause. I hope
they are not using taxpayer money?

Marijuana is one of the most wonderful plants there is; the best and
safest treatment for glaucoma, epilepsy, muscular spasms, reduction of
tumors and control of nausea in cancer chemotherapy, emphysema, mi-
graines, depression, and anorexia nervosa.

Ninety percent of glaucoma victims can benefit from the use of
marijuana, it is 2 to 3 times as effective as any legal medicines for
reducing ocular pressure, without toxic side effects destroying liver
and kidneys.

Marijuana is also the best relaxant and back spasm medicine available,
short of morphine, and is the best herb known for reducing malignant
and benign tumors.

What I want to know is, who are these CAMP people and who pays
them?

I can think of a lot of more constructive things they could do - clean
our creeks and ocean from man-made pollution - pick trash up off the
highway, etc.

One might probably think I am user, well I am a 66-year-old
grandmother with a love for nature and a positive addiction for
exercise who smokes nothing, drinks only water and organic fruit and
vegetable juice, tries to eat only grains and fresh, organic fruit and
vegetables but if I had any of the above mentioned illnesses I would
gladly smoke a joint before I would take an expensive, toxic
medication that causes horrendous and painful side effects.

Medicinal marijuana should be legalized for humanitarian
reasons.

Industrial hemp should be legalized to save the environment.

Elizabeth Burke,
Santa Barbara