Pubdate: Thu,  2 Dec 1999
Source: Fairfield County Weekly (CT)
Copyright: 1999 New Mass. Media, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.fairfieldweekly.com/
Address: One Dock Street, 5th floor, Stamford, CT 06902
Phone: (203) 406-2406
Fax: (203) 406-1099
Author: Myron Von Hollingsworth
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1237/a06.html

COMMON ENEMIES

I full realize that the hemp industry may not be advocates of drugs and I
completely acknowledge and respect that. The purpose of my message is to
point out that the enemies of hemp reform and the enemies of cannabis
reform are the same and the "me no marijuana" position means less than
nothing to them. 

It is because I have the greatest respect for the hemp movement and a
greater resolve to further the cause of both of our movements that I send
my message to you. 

We share common enemies. 

They are many and some are well concealed. 

Their motives are among the most evil and sinister imaginable. Not only do
they not give a tinker's damn about hemp, they think nothing of letting
thousands of sick and dying people linger in pain and misery or
incarcerating 700,000 people a year, mostly for simple possession, while
they lie, cheat and steal in order to maintain the propaganda and profits
of prohibition. They care nothing about environmental benefits or ground
water pollution or THC content much less suffering and death. 

The alternative to prohibition--legalization--will not be as profitable to
them as the present corruption, bribery and forfeiture-ridden policies are.
And that includes hemp...like it or not. 

Maybe the politicians are required to adhere to the party line of
prohibition because law enforcement, customs, the prison industrial
complex, the drug testing industry, the INS, the CIA, the FBI, the DEA, the
politicians themselves can't live without the budget justification, not to
mention the invisible profits, bribery, corruption and forfeiture benefits
that prohibition affords them. The drug war also promotes, justifies and
perpetuates racist enforcement policies and is diminishing many freedoms
and liberties that are supposed to be guaranteed by the Constitution and
the Bill of Rights. 

Myron Von Hollingsworth, Fort Worth, Texas
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MAP posted-by: Eric Ernst