Saturday 16 September 2006 In 1971 the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp Scott number 1438 titled PREVENT DRUG ABUSE; but as Post Master General Winton M. Blount stated at the First Day of Issue ceremony “The stamp is not, in fact, a commemorative stamp at all. It is rather, a warning, a plea for help and a call to the American people to take every step to lift up those who have fallen under the use of drugs.” At that time marijuana had been illegal (Prohibition) for thirty-four years. Since then what has occurred? Well marijuana has become more expensive and its cousin hemp has begun entry into the commerce despite efforts by the DEA to stop it. In the 1980’s we have had a cocaine ‘crack’ epidemic. In the 1990’s an epidemic of ECSTASY at the dance club “RAVES” that our youth are drawn to. Now we are experiencing a METH crisis with its main root resulting in an ID theft crisis. Heroin is cheaper and more readily available. Cocaine appears in abundance, too. In these last thirty-four years our country has spent over $400,000,000,000.00 for these results. The drug criminal cartel is more violent and in 1999 made over $1,000,000,000,000.00 with profits exceeding the GDP of most U.N. member nations. The U.S. Justice Dept. and Congress have failed the 3 R’s… Reality-Regulation-Revenue. The Reality that they have lost the drug war with their draconian attack, and having more people in jail than any other nation on Earth. That Regulation is not legalization but control because PROHIBITION is an utter failure. And the lost Revenue generated by this SUPPLY & DEMAND market which instead is only making those criminals wealthy and contributing to Organized Crime with its ties to Government. Tobacco and alcohol are both in that equation of hypocrisy. Hemp has many useful qualities as a natural resource such as being SULFUR FREE with a 77% cellulose content capable of 875 LB’s of fiber per acre. Or as an energy source of fuel grade METHANOL at 1000 gals, per acre. Marijuana is innocuous with medicinal properties as an ‘expectorant, anti-nausea, appetite stimulant, and relief of ocular pressure’ amongst other properties. It is not the gate-way drug. And nobody has ever died from smoking (toking) on a ‘reefer’ or ‘joint’. Reference: "Opium: A History" by Martin Booth 1996 ISBN: 0-312-18643-6 "Cannabis: A History" by martin Booth 2003 ISBN: 0-312-42494-9 "The Politics of Heroin" by Alfred McCoy, U of Wisc. 1991 ISBN: 1-556-52125-6x "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" by Jack Herer 1985 (revised) ISBN: 1-878-12502-8 Also on the Internet are many sources of information such as: NORML.org, DRCNET.org, MPP.org, drugsense.org, drugpolicyalliance.org, et al. Semper Fidelis, Wesley Ellis Portland OR (a.k.a. “Little Beirut”) [email protected]