Pubdate: Tue, 02 Jul 2013
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2013 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Author: Terry H. Stern

MAYORS RIGHT: KEEP OFF THE GRASS

The U.S. Conference of Mayors should be congratulated for its 
unanimous support recently of a resolution calling for the respect of 
local decisions regarding marijuana. A dramatically shrinking number 
of Americans believe the hard federal line regarding marijuana. It's 
not more dangerous than crack cocaine. It is not more addictive than 
tobacco. It does not cause indolence.

The mayors are among the first group of officials to acknowledge that 
people are thinking for themselves about cannabis, but they're not 
the only ones in authority. Recently, I witnessed police responding 
to a noise complaint at an apartment building. They found an 
apartment full of smoke, giggling men, and a bong. The lead policeman 
sighed, saying, "We had a noise complaint. Keep it down, OK?" And 
they left. One officer said he couldn't arrest a guy at home for pot, 
no matter the law. Not in public, he said, but in private, it's not 
his business.

Other authorities should acknowledge that people are making up their 
own minds about cannabis, whatever it does. It is time to formally allow it.

Terry H. Stern,

Pennsauken
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