LEGALIZE IT, EH

Starting in the 1930s, our nation's first drug czar, Harry Anslinger , used yellow journalism to play upon citizens' racism to escalate the war on cannabis. Anslinger claimed that most users were "Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers" and that "marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others."

It is sad to see Willamette Week also used to push this war. On June 21, 2006, WW reported ["The Mexican Connection" ] that "Mexican cartels are moving into Oregon" and that a police sergeant "has spotted suspected drug bosses in snakeskin boots and white cowboy hats lined up outside clubs blaring mariachi music." Now, Portland has been invaded by "Asian crime rings from north of the border" who set up "high-tech marijuana grows" that have "a detrimental effect on the other houses in the neighborhood. [And] we're talking about some decent neighborhoods" ["Canadian Bakin'," June 27].

WW should be illustrating the idiocy of this war, instead of perpetuating it. Over 400,000 Americans die each year from tobacco, but not a single death can be attributed to cannabis. We tax and regulate tobacco, but spend millions arresting and imprisoning people for possessing and growing cannabis. WW should point out these facts and report that it is time to stop wasting millions of dollars and that Oregon should instead be raking in millions by taxing and regulating the use of cannabis by adults. Then WW can quit being used to continue this foolish war and truly live up to its mission statement.

Anthony Johnson

Political Director, Voter Power
Southeast 50th Avenue