This is such blatant bigotry and Reefer Madness, I just can’t keep [my comments] to myself. Enjoy!

Letter: Legalized marijuana is creating Colorado mischief
To the editor [of the Longmont Reporter-Herald]:

My goodness. There was a time when even suggesting legalizing marijuana would have invoked shock. [True, but those times are history.] I’ve had several calls from out-of-state relatives simply asking “What is going on in Colorado?” [Something wonderful!] Is there no shame? [Nope. Been there. Done that.] We truly have become the laughingstock [and the envy] of the nation. We have the poorly-thought-out, unenforceable gun laws and now the legalization of a federally illegal drug. Yes, we voted and passed Amendment 64. [Woot! Woot!] But how in the world did that pass? [Uh, more voters showed up and marked YES on the ballot for Amendment 64 more times than they did for Barack Obama. That’s how.]

Quite simply, the amendment was put on the ballot by the pot smoking special interest group [and a whole bunch of supporters]. They then proceeded promoted their cause with “pie in the sky” promises like, “It will solve the drug problem,” “So many users will no longer be going to jail,” “Drug money will go to the state instead of drug dealers.” And, “The police will not be tied up chasing petty drug offenders.” If only that were true. [Agreed. Law enforcement is still trying to figure it out.] Believe me, our drug problem just got worse. [Worse? 14% reduction in DUIs this year over New Year’s weekend last year. Bookings at ski resorts are on target to break records. $5 million in retail marijuana sales in the first 5 days. Long lines and no riots, shootings or stoned zombies wandering the streets. And the worst marijuana-related (maybe) traffic incident in the first 10 days is a fender bender with CSP? That’s worse?]

Since the amendment passed, it was then up to legislators to implement it. Did legislators even consider all the ramifications in their process of legalizing marijuana? [Yes, for hours and months. The Task Force. The Joint Committee. Weren’t you paying attention?] Think of all the control required on pharmacy drugs. They are at least tested by the FDA. [No, drugs aren’t tested by the FDA; they’re tested by the manufacturer. http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidmaris/2012/10/10/fda-recall-points-to-serious-problems-at-the-fda/.] You can’t just sell anything to anybody. [And in a regulated system, you can’t sell marijuana to just anybody. But a street-corner drug dealer can.] What about the kids?  Putting a magic age limit on marijuana sales doesn’t mean it won’t find its way to kids. [And neither does making it illegal and throwing people in jail for it, apparently.] We used to be able to tell kids that using drugs is wrong. What do you tell them now? [What do you tell them about alcohol?] Yes, you cannot cross state lines, but why are there so many out-of-state buyers? [Because people across the country and around the world use marijuana and want to come to a state where they won’t be thrown in jail just for enjoying it.] Why is Wyoming gearing up for extra drug traffic? [Even better, why is Wyoming considering passing marijuana legislation of their own?] Yes, marijuana is a lot like alcohol. It’s mind-altering and dangerous [but safer than alcohol].

Did you see the people who crawled to the counter to get drugs? [Crawled? Must have been the exhaustion of patiently waiting in line for hours.] It reminded me of the ’60s hippies. I guess I can’t blame them; they smoked their brains out years ago [you dopers!]. Is it really necessary? It’s not legal. Couldn’t they find some other way to pleasure themselves? Do we have to accommodate every form of deviant behavior in the name of political correctness? [Couldn’t resist pulling out the sexual innuendo, could ya? Ripped that claim right from the headlines of a century ago, did ya? Suggesting that cannabis consumers are equal to sexual “deviants” and child molesters? Now that’s pathetic.] My goodness, there is no shame. [Shame? You’ve forced us to lived in the shadows  for far too long. No, there is no shame in using a medicine that’s safer than pharmaceuticals or a recreational substance that’s safer than alcohol! No shame at all!]

Bill Watry

Loveland

Categories: War on Drugs