Pubdate: Thu, 07 Dec 1999
Source: Fairfield County Weekly (CT)
Copyright: 1999 New Mass. Media, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.fairfieldweekly.com/
Copyright: Fairfield County Weekly 1999
Website: www.fairfieldweekly.com
Author: Christopher A. Joseph

BRUSH UP ON THE CONSTITUTION

I found Terri Lagerstedt's informative article on industrial hemp ["Hemp
Held Hostage," Nov. 11] posted at the Media Awareness Project's web site,
www.mapinc.org. While I am not unfamiliar with the information reported,
one sentence stood out like a sore thumb; "And while the passage of such a
bill creates some headway, the fact remains that federal law supersedes
state law."

I believe this is dreadfully wrong. I suggest that Terri go back and
re-read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The federal government
needed an amendment to enact, and yet another to appeal, alcohol
prohibition, because it did not have the Constitutional authority to do so
otherwise. I do not remember any such amendment being passed to give the
federal government jurisdiction over the states in the war on drugs.

You're sitting in a prison cell, but the door is unlocked. The guard at
your door may have a gun, but he has no legal authority to use it against
you. How do you feel about that?

Christopher A. Joseph Parma, Ohio
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D