Dr. Hempster & Company advocates the legalization of marijuana and along these lines urges everyone to support legalization initiatives in every state. For example, the "Personal Responsibility Amendment" proposed by Michigan lawyer Gregory Schmid, would legalize "limited personal use" of marijuana for people over the age of 21, legalize medical - marijuana use, and sharply reduce the use of forfeiture as a penalty. Attorney Schmid needs to obtain over 300,000 signatures by July, 2000 to get this proposed amendment on the Michigan ballot. Attorney Schmid believes in "personal responsibility and private liberty". Dr. Hempster & Company agrees, and believes that this is an extremely important domestic issue.

There should be a legal distinction between the use of marijuana and the use of hard drugs. A superior alternative would be a Dutch-style system, which would allow the recreational use of marijuana by adults. It is very clear that the present system is doing more harm than good. A part of our society is always going to use drugs; therefore, efforts to eliminate drug use are inevitably futile. The "war on drugs", particularly as it applies to marijuana, is eroding personal freedom and civil liberties in this country.

It is hoped that legalization can come quickly to this country. If you educate yourself on the issue, the only reasonable conclusion is that marijuana should be legalized for private recreational use. Remember, the constitutional amendment repealing prohibition was ratified in less than one year. Please contact your congressman, and your state legislator, asking them to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.