Marijuana laws about as goofy as Prohibition

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6:28 PM Wednesday, June 22, 2011

In 1919, Amendment 18 of our Constitution was ratified by Congress, making alcohol illegal in the U.S. As a result, it created bootleggers, moonshine stills, rum-runners outrunning law-enforcement in souped-up cars, crime lords like Al Capone and overseas importation of liquor.

Finally, in 1933, Congress realized its error and ratified Amendment 21, which repealed Prohibition.

Now we are faced with a variety of laws which makes the sale, use or possession of marijuana illegal, except a few states dispensing medical marijuana at exorbitant prices.

I was a youngster during Prohibition and remember very well the warnings and scare tactics about the dangers of alcohol, the same tactics being used about pot. It is a natural herb, not a drug. A drug is a manufactured product.

Many millions of dollars and many deaths have been expended in this ludicrous battle. Isn’t it about time we repeal these stupid laws and legalize marijuana as we did alcohol?

No, I don’t use pot — or alcohol — but do believe in the rights of people who do.

Lewis E. Burghy

Dayton

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