Pinthouse Pizza
Legalize It
RECEIVED Thu., Jan. 21, 2010
Dear Editor,
Re: “Talking Travis: Elliott Naishtat” [Newsdesk, May 15, 2009]: Thank you for your continued coverage of the medical use of marijuana (cannabis). My hope is that there are more representatives than Rep. Elliott Naishtat who find the issue of cannabis important enough to provide legal provisions for Texans with painful disabilities and diseases to grow and use cannabis medically without worry of criminal charges. The American Medical Association and the federal government have recently changed direction regarding their previous stances on this topic and Texas policy should follow. The value of a drug to a patient should be between a doctor and patient, not between lawmakers. The current Texas drug policy, especially surrounding the uses of the cannabis plant, is outdated, unwarranted, and overly penalizes Texans who choose to use cannabis for any purpose. The plant has clear, scientifically proven benefits to health and society. Clearly, abusing the plant is not its only use, yet Texas drug policy only focuses on the abuse of the plant in the formation of its laws regarding the plant. If all laws were made this way, we would not have access to many paints, solvents, or gasoline for that matter. Alcohol was once outlawed using this very outdated methodology. We must repeal prohibition laws because we currently cannot grow cannabis for food, oil, or fiber products. We cannot use it for clothing, cosmetics, medicinally, or even research its other beneficial properties and uses (like clean fuel). It's time everyone come out and get educated about this useful plant. It's not just about abuses anymore.
Re: “Talking Travis: Elliott Naishtat” [Newsdesk, May 15, 2009]: Thank you for your continued coverage of the medical use of marijuana (cannabis). My hope is that there are more representatives than Rep. Elliott Naishtat who find the issue of cannabis important enough to provide legal provisions for Texans with painful disabilities and diseases to grow and use cannabis medically without worry of criminal charges. The American Medical Association and the federal government have recently changed direction regarding their previous stances on this topic and Texas policy should follow. The value of a drug to a patient should be between a doctor and patient, not between lawmakers. The current Texas drug policy, especially surrounding the uses of the cannabis plant, is outdated, unwarranted, and overly penalizes Texans who choose to use cannabis for any purpose. The plant has clear, scientifically proven benefits to health and society. Clearly, abusing the plant is not its only use, yet Texas drug policy only focuses on the abuse of the plant in the formation of its laws regarding the plant. If all laws were made this way, we would not have access to many paints, solvents, or gasoline for that matter. Alcohol was once outlawed using this very outdated methodology. We must repeal prohibition laws because we currently cannot grow cannabis for food, oil, or fiber products. We cannot use it for clothing, cosmetics, medicinally, or even research its other beneficial properties and uses (like clean fuel). It's time everyone come out and get educated about this useful plant. It's not just about abuses anymore.
David Wagner