I live just outside of Tupelo, Miss., and have friends and relatives all over Alabama. Knowing both of these states quite well, I am fully aware of the history of the Southern court system. I am not so sure I agree that we have what is referred to as "The New South." A couple of weeks ago I had the nasty displeasure of just one afternoon in an Alexander City courtroom. If it weren't for the fact that a person's life and future were in the hands of a disgrace of a judge, I would have been laughing hysterically and removed from the courtroom. [continues 241 words]
A Feb. 25 article stated, "A new joint federal, state and local initiative is under way in Jackson and Vicksburg to sweep illegal drug users off the streets" (Drug users target of initiative"). What a waste of our resources this is. This "sweep" will have absolutely zero effect. It will only make folks "feel" better, not actually "be" better. People have eaten, drank, injected, rubbed onto themselves, smoked and inhaled various forms of mind-altering substances since the beginning of time. This is human nature and it will continue until the end of time. [continues 192 words]
I reside just outside of Tupelo, Miss., and have friends and relatives all over Alabama. Knowing both of these states quite well, I am fully aware of the history of the Southern court system and not so sure I agree that we have what is referred to as "The New South." A few weeks ago I had the nasty displeasure of just one afternoon in an Alexander City courtroom. If it weren't for the fact that a person's life and future were in the hands of a disgrace of a judge, I would have been laughing hysterically and removed from the courtroom. [continues 434 words]
Editor: I am responding to the article "Pot-growing handbook burns library critics." This complaint is insanity at best. The county library is being criticized for carrying a how-to book on growing marijuana with the critic comparing this book to other books on bomb-making, assassination, how to make methamphetamine and child pornography! This person is completely ignorant and delusional on the difference between man-made laws and the laws against nature. I have read so very much data on the effects of marijuana use and, too, on child pornography. I can tell you, with great knowledge on both, that they absolutely cannot be compared in any form or fashion. Marijuana is a 10,000 year old extremely useful and harmless plant. I can only begin to tell you the sickening effects of child pornography. Even if the pornographer is smoking a joint while snapping away pictures of a naked child to share with his sick and criminal associates, you still cannot place the blame on marijuana. [continues 258 words]
Editor, Commonwealth: I am responding to the editorial column by Tim Kalich, "Job losses cloud prison judgment," published February 1. I could not agree more. The very idea of opening a prison facility to house inmates from across the country is obscene and would be referred to as insanity at best. What is Haley Barbour thinking? Do we really want all these murderers, rapists, child molesters and all sorts of other criminals shipped in from other states? I can speak for most every citizen when I shout a very loud, "No, we do not!" [continues 168 words]
To the editor: This is in response to the column in the Delta Democrat Times published on Jan. 20th ("Drugs force tough decisions, result in unfair conclusions") authored by D.V. Adderton. Mr. Adderton was referring to the police drug raid on Stratford High School in Goose Creek, S.C., and concluded that "critical times demand a drastic response because our youth need to be protected at all costs, no matter the end result." I have been following this obscene incident very closely with great interest from day one. I ask Adderton and the readers to think very hard and put yourselves in the place of those students. [continues 289 words]
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This is in response to an opinion authored by Calvin Daigle ("New drug policy would aid U.S.," Oct. 17) stating that drug traffickers should be put to death here in the United States as in some countries he has visited, such as Singapore and Indonesia. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This insane practice or promise of their governments certainly has not stopped the trafficking of drugs from or to any country. This is by far the most revolting article I have read concerning drug laws in our country. [continues 201 words]
Insane To Punish Non-Violent Drug Offenders Worse Than Violent Criminals. Editor, Commonwealth: This is in response to the Aug. 5 column, "Drugs and the family unit." The author (Charles Dunagin) started his story by referring to a scene in the movie, "The Godfather," with the characters discussing the pros and cons of getting into the illegal drug business, which was set in the 1940s. The movie and its content is just that: a movie. Of course the Italian Mafia and every other organized crime group, including our government, got into the illegal drug business since prohibition had been lifted off alcohol. There was no longer money to made off this "unattainable drink." In 1937, some very powerful, greedy politicians and their cronies made hemp illegal for their gain. Here comes the big money to be made. [continues 309 words]
This is in response to the article printed 7-25-03 citing that 'drug fighting dollars have dropped' and that our drug agency is hurting. Not only is this untrue, but, it is almost hilarious. Our overfed Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics has been living off our tax dollars to no avail since conception. It originally sounded good on paper to voters and lawmakers, but in reality, the War On Drugs have been a complete abysmal failure. Prison population has drastically escalated in the past few years. [continues 425 words]
Editor: The Higher Education Act was signed into law more than three decades ago by President Lyndon B. Johnson to open the door for all Americans to a college education to whom it had earlier been closed. It establishes federal financial aid programs such as Perkins Loans, Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, PLUS Loans and Work-Study programs. The act is periodically reviewed and updated by Congress to ensure adequate funding and access to college for millions of Americans. Then, the 1998 revision to the HEA included a new provision that blocked college opportunities to students revealing drug convictions on their free application for federal student aid. [continues 321 words]
"The Higher Education Act" was signed into law over three decades ago by President Lyndon Johnson to open the door for all Americans to a college education. It establishes federal financial aid programs and work-study programs. The act is periodically reviewed and updated by Congress. The 1998 revision to the HEA included a new provision that blocked college opportunities to students revealing drug convictions on their free application for federal student aid. This is completely discriminatory to children of lesser means or adults who want to continue their education and better themselves but cannot because of a possession charge. This is strictly a law against poor people, but what else is new? Over 150,000 students have lost their chance at education and we're still counting. This is an outright disaster. [continues 138 words]
Canada, oh, Canada, what are your officials thinking? Can't figure it out? Neither can we. All my life I have taken my hat off to Canadians for sticking to their beliefs, no matter what the United States had to say about them. Your federal government's latest actions on the marijuana front are not only shocking to the folks who applaud you here in the U.S., but are truly a slap in the face to your country. What does it mean when you can possess 15 grams of marijuana, but grow, buy or sell it and you face a crime punishable of up to 14 years? [continues 153 words]
This is in regard to your April 20 editorial ("Medicaid: With tight budget, what do you cut?). I have this message for our elected lawmakers: Stop sending non-violent drug offenders to prison! Save our prison space for violent criminals. The money we spend on the miserably failed War On Drugs would give Mississippi many millions of badly needed dollars to spend, not only for our Medicaid patients, but for several other deserving programs as well. We need Medicaid. So why don't lawmakers at least try "cutting the fat" where it needs cutting? Anita T. Mayfield Nettleton [end]
Editor, Commonwealth: This is in regard to the April 24 article on bed space in Parchman. Mississippi, stop sending non-violent drug offenders to prison to be locked up with violent criminals. This would free up thousands of beds and millions of dollars for our prison system. The article read, "Mississippi has the second-highest rate of incarceration in the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, and there are no plans - or funds - to build new prisons." [continues 88 words]
To the editor: The war on drugs is more harmful than we thought. Oxford District Attorney Jim Hood recently stated he wanted to "cut down on his customer base" by handing out a few pamphlets on drug addiction. Mr. Hood should consider lobbying for reform on our drug laws. The "War On Drugs" is a complete failure. Our prisons are overflowing with hundreds of thousands of victims from this war on drugs. Families are ripped apart with people's homes, life savings, and their children stolen from them and disbursed to state agencies. [continues 225 words]
Down With Absurd Laws The War On Drugs is a complete failure. Our prisons are overflowing with hundreds of thousands of victims from this War On Drugs. Families are ripped apart with people's homes, life savings, and their children stolen from them and disbursed to state agencies. Non-violent citizens are being locked up with murderers, rapists, child molesters and very often receive more prison time than these true criminals. Why are we letting our elected officials get by with this? [continues 205 words]
Editor: In regard to the editorial (April 9) titled, "Rubbing Out Drug Element," I would really like to know if the author was trying to convince others or perhaps maybe even himself that the drug bust in Greenville had an effect on drug use? I can tell you now, it had absolutely zero effect. People have eaten, drank, smoked, injected and rubbed onto them various forms of mind-altering substances since the beginning of time. This is human nature and it will continue until the end of time. Prohibition will not stop people from doing what they want to do just because something is currently against the law. [continues 166 words]
Marijuana has been legally grown in Mississippi (at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, for research, under special permit with the federal and state governments) for over two decades, with nine states legalizing its use for medicinal reasons and now benefiting from its harvest. Mississippi is not one of those states. We grow medical marijuana here in our state but we cannot use it. Why is that? The state of Mississippi's overfed DEA locks up whomever they want - ripping apart families, stealing their property and/or their children - and auctions off anything they can get their hands on to the highest bidder. They can do this to you for even talking about marijuana over the telephone - - charging you with "conspiracy to distribute." [continues 192 words]
Marijuana has been legally grown in Mississippi (at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, for research, under special permit with the federal and state governments) for over two decades, with nine states legalizing its use for medicinal reasons and now benefiting from its harvest. Mississippi is not one of those states. We grow medical marijuana here in our state but we cannot use it. Why is that? The state of Mississippi's overfed DEA locks up whomever they want - ripping apart families, stealing their property and/or their children - and auctions off anything they can get their hands on to the highest bidder. They can do this to you for even talking about marijuana over the telephone - - charging you with "conspiracy to distribute." [continues 191 words]
