response to Congressman Forbes disappointing letter

[Chuck]

Dear Congressman Forbes,

I was very disappointed in your letter dated June 12, 2009 which
outlined your unalterable position on marijuana reform. I was mostly
disappointed because of your lack of genuine concern and that you are
not familiar with drug classification in the United States by the Drug
Enforcement Agency.

Cocaine even in its form as crack is a schedule II narcotic
according to the Drug Enforcement Agencies scheduling not a schedule I
narcotic. This is one of the reasons I’ve been reaching out not only
to my representatives but to fellow citizens. I think education and
awareness is the best way to resolve this part of the war on drugs.
Everyone knows cocaine/crack is worse than marijuana. If you or your
staff revisits my letter you will notice I have seen drug addiction
and addict’s first hand. I think any person who assumes the
unalterable position that marijuana is worse than crack can not be
effective in resolving drug issues.

I am also disappointed to hear you say; “Federal Health Officials
believe that the public is better served if science, rather than the
ballot box or the courts, were used to judge a drug’s utility”. The
FDA approved Marinol for a drug company a few years ago. Marinol is
synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Doctors can prescribe Marinol;
it is readily available for certain illnesses through prescription. I
didn’t vote for a guy who wanted to do what he thought would be best
for the constituency. I voted for a guy who would listen to and
represent the wishes of the constituency with an open mind and from an
informed perspective.

Republicans who share your unalterable views such as Republican
Rep. Mark Kirk from Chicago who has called for federal legislation to
sentence certain first-time marijuana offenders to up to 25 years in
prison are killing our party.

I’m sure your staff does not appreciate your constituents as you
do. Hopefully sometime in the future when you have considered all the
facts surrounding this issue you will dig up my letter and see who
your constituents are. Then if you would like you can give me a call.
I would be honored to meet with you if there ever comes a time when
you wish to know more on this subject from this constituent’s
perspective.

Negative response not required
Charles Johnson
USDOJ Retired

[Johnny Tynes]

Very well worded.