The Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor
Wednesday, March 3, 1999
Medical Marijuana
California state Sen. John Vasconcellos has just touched the tip of the
iceberg of the problems with our national drug prohibition policy (Commentary,
Feb. 25).
The dominant puritanical minority that controls the Congress with coercion, fear
and the politics of personal destruction has also subverted our federal courts.
After the federal sentencing commission proposed easing marijuana sentencing,
the Congress responded by refusing to approve any more appointments to the
commission. The result is that the federal courts no longer have the guidance of
the commission and thus federal law and the nation's courts are effectively
subverted.
Most judges fear rendering constitutionally consistent decisions because these
vindictive members of the Congress will censure them. While a censure won't
remove a judge from the court, it will foreclose any upward mobility in the
system. This is the judicial environment that Peter McWilliams is subjected to.
If the state of California is to save the life of McWilliams, it should step in
and take him into protective custody from the federal prosecutors and provide to
him the lifesaving marijuana that he needs to stabilize and strengthen his body.
The state should stand up to the federal persecutors and protect their citizen
from a federal government gone mad.
PAT ROGERS
Allentown, Pa.
Vasconcellos deserves high praise for his essay. This extraordinary
statement is both courageous and historic, especially in light of his defense of
McWilliams and other medical marijuana patients who are currently being
persecuted by hostile federal officials.
Vasconcellos' challenge to the federal government to respect the will of the
people is the kind of genuine and inspired leadership that deserves our respect
and support. It's time to stop arresting sick people.
STEVE KUBBY
Olympic Valley, California
NOTE: Less than 6 weeks after this letter was published, Kubby was
arrested on medical marijuana charges. Article here.