Pubdate: Fri, 23 Mar 2007
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2007 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n352/a02.html
Author: Frederick Cleveland

CASE OF THE BONG CAN'T GO WRONG

Re "Bong hits for free speech," editorial, March 20

Perhaps young Joseph Frederick has stumbled on a constitutionally
protected way to legalize marijuana. The fact that pot is benign
compared with alcohol or pharmaceuticals, much less harder drugs,
didn't do it. The fact that dying people find relief from their
suffering with pot hasn't seemed to faze lawmakers. Perhaps as a
sacrament to Jesus can an exception to our draconian legal posture be
found, and we can end decades of lies about this resourceful weed. The
federal government has made religious exceptions in the past. Will we
continue to be a nation of laws, or has that horse already escaped the
barn?

FREDERICK CLEVELAND

Los Angeles