Published in SF Chronicle
about 4/28/97

Dan Lungren is right about one thing: proposition 215 is a bad law. It discriminates against healthy people. Everyone should be allowed to enjoy the herb, without uniformed kidnappers (drug law enforcement) looting with legal immunity.

Ira Eisenberg's "It's No Time for Pot Clubs to Party" (4/23/97) asks those who favor legalization of marijuana to shut up and acquiesce to pot as medicine only, and that only under heavy regulation. Nuts!

Why should we, who constituted many if not most of the 5.2 million voters who voted for 215, wimp out on the verge of victory? Not only has medicinal cannabis been approved in two states with more on the horizon, but industrial hemp growing is on the legislative agenda of Kentucky and New Hampshire. With both industrial and medical hemp legal, total legalization is probably not far behind. At worst, it will be easier for us to evade unjust laws.

It's time to push the envelope, end the stupid prohibition, and relegalize marijuana. Heroes like Dennis Peron (of CBC) and John Hudson (of Flower Therapy), who put their butts on the line, have my utmost support, praise and admiration.