 [11] TALK.POLITICS.DRUGS (1:375/48)  TALK.POLITICS.DRUGS 
 Msg  : #5720 [215]                                                             
 From : Rex Kahler                          1:2613/335      Tue 03 May 94 23:35 
 To   : (crosspost 1) All                                                       
 Subj : Germany Legalises Marijuana                                             

From: dolphin@ziggys.cts.com (Rex Kahler)  619/262-6384
Organization: Ziggy's Den Of Iniquity, East of East SD CA

} > Why subscribe to newspapers when you have the Internet? If we can help each

here's one reason - culled from today's san diego union :  Dear Abby :

(xscribed wholly w/o permission - all typos mine)


                Dear Abby

        Attorney makes a case for legalization of drugs

   Dear Abby: I read the letter you published from "Inmate 711895"
and had to respond.
   "Inmate" stated that he smoked marijuana for 20 years, and during
that time, he also used cocaine. If his consumption of those substances
was so harmful, how was it that he was married, had a good job, a home
in the suburbs and a clean record? In other words, if used in moderation,
drugs do not prevent a person from leading a normal, productive life.
   His letter was much more of an indictment against drug prohibition.
His letter could have been written 65 years ago by someone convicted of
selling beer ort whiskey. It took a commission headed by a fellow named
Wickersham to bring an end to the folly of alcohol prohibition.
   Surgeon General (Joycelyn) Elders has called for a similar commission
to study whether the benefit of some forms of drug legalization might
outweigh the tremendous cost of prohibition.
   Abby, if cocaine were a drug sold by licensed dealers, Inmate 711895
would still be home supporting his family.

                        -- Robert E. Pottratz, Minnesota Attorney


   Dear Mr. Pottratz: Just as bootleggers were forced out of business
in 1933 when Prohibition was repealed, making the sale of liquor legal
(thus eliminating racketeering), the legalization of drugs would put
drug dealers out of business. It would also guarantee government-
approved quality, and the tax on drugs would provide an ongoing source
of revenue for drug-education programs. An added plus: There would be
far less crowding in our prisons due to drug-related crimes. It's
something to consider.



*****     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****


well - lookie here - if we can get "Dear Abby" to back re-legalization,
we must be making incredible strides forward. i personally don't read
her columns (but when a headline like this jumps out at you, ya gotta
read it!), but MILLIONS of people around the world do read her, and
they value her advice.
by her saying "It's something to consider", i predict that one helluva
lot more people will now do so - and since just getting people to
break out of their wosd mindset and think about the situation is half
the battle won, i think we should all write and thank her for her
efforts.

now if we can just get "Ann Landers" to jump on the bandwagon......



back beneath the waves
                        D o l p h i n R e x
/s\


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