. If California’s Counties would address the main issues involving marijuana use and cultivation by individual citizens in its jurisdiction, this problem would go away. Of course the Counties would have to forego Federal Drug War money, and divert some Sheriff’s deputies to the task of protecting county residents from unconstitutional actions by Federal agents.

What makes this charade even more absurd, is the use of a specific type of Federal ‘pot" grown for the government at the University of Mississippi. This marijuana has been prescribed for a handful of patients in the U.S., and was chosen last year by Canada for use in a similar study.

Having government as the sole "developer" of marijuana for medicinal studies, makes as much sense as having them produce grapes for the only legally available medicinal source of wine. Fortunately, there are others who have engaged in the development of a variety of superior pot plants and grape vines. Unfortunately, not all of the research has the blessing of government.

As adults, my wife and I take "red wine", with 13% alcohol, on a daily basis. This is "self-prescribed" and we have determined a benefit to our health. For some arbitrary reason, our "choice" to do this is not illegal. Anyone familiar with Prohibition knows it has not always been so!

On the other hand, my son, now in his 40’s, prefers marijuana. It seems he acquired a taste for it in his days in government schools. And, he became quite knowledgeable about the subject during a short course at the Hillcrest Juvenile Hall. He praised the reading material provided there, specifically that pertaining to tetra-hydra-cannabinal. (THC - the critical ingredient in marijuana).

Thanks to the Federal government, my son is unable to prescribe and grow Marijuana for his own consumption. Nor will the V.A. hospital, which he frequents, prescribe it for him. They do, however, prescribe much more dangerous drugs, at taxpayers’s expense. As a consequence of this insane public policy, my son now collects disability from the Social Security Administration.

When it comes to individual rights, Libertarians have it right. We know that group rights exist only by virtue of individuals subordinating their rights to the collective. In the case of the Government of the United States, we the people have bestowed powers upon that agency of the people. The Constitution of the United States contains an enumerated list of those powers, with all other rights and powers retained by the individual States, or the People.

Prohibition provides a parallel to the current war on drugs. However, in that instance, at least there was a brief Constitutional authority for the Government of the United States to engage in the war on alcohol. History shows that the ceding, by the People, of such authority was a serious mistake.

Individual adult citizens have a fundamental right to determine what to ingest into their bodies, whether it be for nutritional, medicinal, recreational or other purposes. That right has not been given up to the Federal government. Ideally, the individual should strive for self-sufficiency in obtaining, cultivating or producing the chosen substances, be they herbs, vegetables, mushrooms, spices, fermented products, etc.

Marijuana should be restored to its original status. Personal cultivation and use of marijuana should be of no concern to legislators. Whether it is regarded as dangerous by some or medically beneficial by others is irrelevant. If pharmaceutical companies wish to cultivate plants for sale by prescription, let them pay for the studies necessary to certify their product, and optimize the delivery system.

The illegality of marijuana possession or cultivation has created a black market. Our jails are filled with individuals whose only crime is that of making a personal choice--a choice which did not involve crime against others. And, incarceration is not the only government punishment exacted for so-called substance abuse. Local residents may be aware of the Kava tea caper, which involved a tradition of Pacific Islanders. One of the participants in a Kava tea ritual has been unemployed pending resolution of a driving_under_the_influence charge (no victims involved). In this instance, justice delayed is justice denied.

The "black market" in marijuana (and other_illegal_drugs) has provided a fundraising arena for corrupt politicians, radical military groups (such as the Contras) and other organized crime elements. They prey upon our impressionable youth who have a propensity for "excitement", and on less fortunate members of society.

A rogue government with tyrannical powers has evolved in our country. Call it the Federal Government, or the United States Government, it is not the Government of the United States envisioned by our Founders. The authority of this rogue government must be questioned.

What can we do? What should we do?

A good start, if I may borrow a line from from those who would have a "drug-free" society, is "just say no". Just say no to the temptation to blame drugs, guns etc., for crimes. Individuals commit crimes.

It wasn’t "Twinkies" that murdered George Moscone and Harvey Milk, it was Dan White!

Just say no to the charades and political posturing on the medical marijuana issue.

Let’s focus on crime, and criminal activity involving victims, and eliminate the government created "black markets". Let’s empty our jails of the wrongfully imprisoned, and stop releasing the true felons.