Day: August 1, 2014

To the Editor: I know it is too early but come November we will be asked to vote for or against the legalization of marijuana (cannabis) for recreational use. At one time, I was in favor of letting adults determine for themselves what is good for them. Since then I have done some serious thinking. We have seen highly educated people such as doctors, lawyers and engineers getting arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs so some adults don’t know what is good for them. My research indicates marijuana is a psychoactive drug and medicine and should be allowed for medical use to reduce pain just like Vicodin and Percocet. Of course Vicodin and Percocet need a doctor’s prescription. The recreational use is another matter. Marijuana comes in different strengths and different forms. It can be added to cookies and given to unsuspecting people including children. Marijuana has some positive effects such as euphoria and relaxation. Some of the side effects are short-term memory loss, impaired motor skills and feelings of paranoia or anxiety. I have not seen enough research results to determine several things. First, is the smoking of one joint enough to prohibit a person from driving a vehicle? Second, how long after smoking one joint is a person able to think clearly and have quick reaction necessary to drive a vehicle? Third, what...

To the Editor: The time is upon us again when we all go to the polls, cast our votes, return to our centered lives complaining and placing weight of all issues upon those we have elected. This is the process, is it not? No! We all may think it is, but only our ignorance allows this. George Washington, in his farewell address to the nation warned us all of political parties, “Lest they be like fires untended will consume.” He did not trust political parties of any kind because of their danger to people’s freedom in a republic. I’ve heard people say with great sincerity, “Our Constitution protects us” from this or that. Once the seed of ignorance is planted it cultivates and grows stronger than the truth. The truth is, our Constitution is a set of laws by which this republic and her three houses of power, (judicial, legislative, and executive), must conduct their business. I have heard people say, “The Constitution protects my right of free speech.” No, it does not. Before our Constitution could be ratified, some states had questions, such as, “What keeps our new federal government from saying I have to go to that church, when I like to go to this church?” Of course those who wanted the Constitution to pass answered, “We would never do that.” But again,”What if someone later said...