This year, Nevada has included a proposition on its ballot that would legalize the possession of marijuana in amounts of three ounces or less. Should a similar measure be considered in Arizona?

Hemp taboo ignorant

ÎHarmless' like the plague

Jessica Lee By Jessica Lee Arizona Daily Wildcat Friday August 30, 2002 The war on marijuana, whether it be medicinal or recreational, has its roots deeply imbedded in the fight against industrial hemp. Hemp, or cannabis sativa, has been grown since antiquity as the source for products such as medicine, textiles, paper, food, oil, ink, building materials, detergent, varnish and fuel. If the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 had not outlawed the use of hemp, the durable and versatile crop would be harvesting billions of dollars in revenue each year. In the mid-1930s, new technologies discovered ways in which the hemp crop might compete with newly created plastics and synthetic fiber industries, as well as the timber companies. At the same time, funding for the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (now the Drug Enforcement Agency) had received a severe cut in funding due to the end of Prohibition, which outlawed alcohol. With the industries behind him, the FBN director made a plea to Congress in 1937 remarking: "Most marijuana smokers are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes." Headlines were spouted by the U.S. government and the media such as, "Marijuana: The devil's weed with roots in hell," and "If the hideous monster Frankenstein came face to face with the monster marihuana, he would drop dead of fright." The alcohol industry contributed to the campaign of lies by funding the movie "Reefer Madness." "The law banning hemp was rooted in racism, greed, prejudice, ignorance and manipulation." -Jessica Lee The law banning hemp was rooted in racism, greed, prejudice, ignorance and manipulation. By demonizing recreational hemp, Congress awarded a few industries sole possession of the American markets and resulted in more funding for the FBN. It is time to legalize harmless marijuana in order to free up the American hemp markets. Hemp is not only structurally and chemically more beneficial than cotton, timber and oil, but it's easier to grow and is exceptionally environmentally friendly. Do not buy into the propaganda against marijuana and hemp that has been continuously fed by the same stakeholders who helped outlaw it. It is time to take hemp back into the hands of Arizonans and rid our state of cotton.

Jason Baran By Jason Baran Arizona Daily Wildcat Friday August 30, 2002 The short answer is no. The long answer is no for a number of reasons. Contrary to the sentiments of legalization supporters, there is an array of evidence that links marijuana use, like cigarette smoking, to serious health problems. The National Institute of Health reports that among these maladies are chronic bronchitis, frequent chest colds, injured or destroyed lung tissue and cancer. The NIH also links marijuana use in expectant mothers to low birth weights and decreased capacity of the immune system. In addition, the motor development is impaired in babies who are breast fed by marijuana smoking mothers. Despite supporters' claims, there is evidence that marijuana is a gateway drug, particularly when users start when they are young. Reuters reported this past Wednesday that 62 percent of marijuana users who started before age 15 moved on to cocaine. "Nine percent reported they had used heroin and more than half had used prescription drugs for recreational purposes," the article stated. But the Nevada law prohibits use before age 21. "There is no reason we should expose ourselves to the increased social and economic costs by making marijuana as common as cigarattes." -Jason Baran Right. We've seen the effectiveness of the alcohol law to keep it out of the hands of minors. Speaking of which, why not treat marijuana like alcohol? A marijuana user is every bit as dangerous behind the wheel of a car as a drunk driver. To make matters worse, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the effects of marijuana can impair driving for up to 24 hours, whereas alcohol clears out of one's system much more quickly. Communities in Arizona have steadily made progress in dealing with tobacco and its ills; there is no reason we should expose ourselves to increased social and economic costs by making marijuana as common as cigarettes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Nevadans spent $285 million on medical costs relating to smoking in 1993. Imagine how much that number will increase. Whatever the possible tax revenues may be, they are certainly negligible in comparison to the health costs and economic impacts from lost productivity. Marijuana is dangerous, despite how harmless it looks on TV. Besides being unenforceable, legalization will merely exacerbate the problems already caused by marijuana.