Pubdate: Thu, 24 June 1999
Source: Our Times Santa Monica (CA)
Copyright: 1999 Times Community Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.ourtimes.com/home/ourtimes/santamonica/
Author: Robin Givens
Note: This will bring the PUB LTEs over 30 for our author in our archives at:
http://www.mapinc.org/lte/
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n653.a08.html

JUDGE MATTHEW'S REEFER MADNESS RULING

Let me see if I got this right. Joe "Hemp" Kidwell was convicted for
illegally cultivating 14 marijuana plants. At the same time Judge Albert
Matthews recognized Kidwell's Proposition 215 rights by ordering him to
only use his legal medical marijuana at home.

Matthews has me confused because patients entitled to use medical marijuana
at home or anywhere else are also legally entitled to grow cannabis under
the terms of Proposition 215. For Judge Matthews to make these
contradictory rulings defies all logic. Obviously, Kidwell was wrongly
convicted of the cultivation charges if he has a Proposition 215 right to
use marijuana for medical purposes.

Matthews reveals his Reefer Madness prejudice when he attempts to restrict
Kidwell's free speech rights to oppose lunatic marijuana laws that haven't
had one iota of truth behind them since they were passed more than 60 years
ago. Petitioning the government to change policy, redress grievances and
repeal laws is a Constitutional right even in Santa Monica.

Judge Albert Matthews has substituted his own agenda for the rule of law
and he should be removed from the bench forthwith.

Robin Givens 
San Francisco

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