[Re: Neverending Stories, “Local Nurse Brings the Medicinal Cannabis Fight to the Feds,” Jan. 15-21] The continuing denial of marijuana as a medicine exposes the utter fraud of drug prohibition. No sane person who does not make a living enforcing drug laws can deny that marijuana has "accepted medical use." Thousands of people with recommendations from doctors in 12 states is all the proof needed to put the lie to the drug crusader myth that "marijuana has no medical value."If the courts read the plain language of the Controlled Substances Act they must rule that marijuana has accepted medical utility because doctors, medical researchers and patients say so. No extensive testing is needed to prove the widespread use of marijuana for medical purposes when so many doctors and patients are using cannabis for their medical conditions.It’s time for the feds to get out of medicine.
Letters In-Depth Perception
I just finished your article [Re: Thin Line, “The Daily Decline,” Jan. 15-21], and, yes, it is sad to love a job that is in decline. But I think the issue is more than just Internet and TV. Newsprint is attempting to take on TV and the Internet at their own game. What I mean is that TV and the Internet will give a quick hit of what is going on in the world, the U.S., the state and in the city. But the newspapers seem to be trying the same thing, and because of the media involved, the newspapers cannot win. I stopped reading newspapers some time ago, because when I found a story I really wanted to know about I would look in the newspaper for in-depth coverage and would find pretty much what I had already read on the Internet. I think that if newspapers want to become a valid source of news for the people, two things will need to happen: 1) Stop trying to do the same thing TV and the Internet are doing and go after the rest of the details and story, and 2) newspapers have to stop being afraid to take on the power people; if they do something bad, report factually and let them explain. Trust your readership to be able to realize the truth from fiction.
Letters “I Am Not The Nuisance You Seek To Abate”
I am a recent UNM graduate and have tentative plans to remain in Albuquerque to find work. Staying here requires me to change my status as a Burque interloper. After all, I have been here for more than 15 years, but now that I’m job hunting, I feel like a citizen. The other day my little rental was searched and scrutinized by a team of around seven Albuquerque police, including members of the nuisance abatement team. No "building code violations" were found, or whatever it was they were looking for in my sock drawer and closet, but I still felt violated. I have not always been the model citizen, and when I looked back I realized something. Part of what contributed to my illegal activities was the stress of being homeless.There’s no doubt I was a mess, but with a domicile I at least had somewhere to fix appliances and attempt to earn some honest cash. Nuisance abatement has its dark side. We need to re-evaluate its impact on Albuquerque’s citizens, all of them.
Letters The Last Day
Dec. 19 was my last day in my classroom. My contract would end Dec. 31 as I had chosen to retire from teaching special education after 18.75 years. I had planned this retirement since October. By one in the afternoon, the executive secretary came to my classroom and told me, “I am just the messenger; you must turn in your badge, your keys, and no one can leave grounds until you leave.” I was stunned and almost wanted to burst into tears. I thought I had until 3:30 to close down. After all, that was the end of the work day. I didn’t mind turning in my keys. I did mind not having the time to close down my classroom at my own pace. I did mind not having the time to just clean up my computer and process the ending of my career in teaching special needs kids. I did mind not being respected as a professional and being treated like a piece of furniture that needed to be thrown out. The rage I felt toward the administration that gave the directive to the secretary attacked my 18.75 years of dedication to teaching. I reluctantly threw the remaining items of my personal effects into my pickup and drove away. My faith and personal work kept me in check from doing anything I would regret. But I did think about those unfortunate souls that could not be rational with unfavorable outcomes in the workplace. I don’t know if management will ever handle these situations any better … management simply reflects our culture, which is full of egocentric, power-hungry specimens impersonating human beings.
Letters A Few Rockets Between Friends
When did war become acceptable? Sometime after WWII, the U.S. and the world decided that targets should be specific and noncombatants are collateral damage unless there is a declared jihad by a Muslim holy man. Then all infidels are fair game. War should be ugly, devastating and all-out, and therefore avoided. Otherwise, war becomes a disagreement. But, because war has become sterilized, it is therefore acceptable. Hey, what’s a few rockets between friends? We can agree to disagree even though innocent people die in the process while puppet masters safely pull the strings behind a distant stage.
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