Letters for September 20, 2007

Dogs are killers
Re “Dogs are special creatures” (Letters, Sept. 6):

Perhaps Joseph Pasulka would like to tell the mother whose arms were severely mauled by a pit bull recently in the Bay Area that dogs are “God’s innocent and defenseless creatures.” If the dog hadn’t been driven off by a man wielding a level, the dog would likely have killed her and her infant son. Pasulka goes on to say that dogs are not man’s possessions. That’s news to me because pets are property under the law. If he thinks it should be illegal to buy and sell goldfish, gerbils, mice, cats, dogs, horses, and other animals, he needs to seek psychological counseling. He’s probably one of those kooks who calls himself the “parent” of the dog.

So many dog lovers are idiots. Maybe there’s a mind-altering substance in the saliva of dogs that owners pick up when they kiss the animal on the lips.

Jennifer Tuttle
Sparks

Feds attack victims
Re “Patients need patience” (News, Sept. 13):

Thanks for bringing this issue to the attention of Nevadans! I live here in the area, and I’m one of those “scared” patients who has to worry about the federal government arresting and convicting me of something our state has compassionately legalized for us. I probably wouldn’t have gotten my State Card if the ballot measure for legalizing marijuana had passed in the last election. When it didn’t, I had to buy the card for health reasons. It costs $50 for the paper work and then $150 a year to possess the card, not to mention a doctors approval and a big stack of paper work. Then I had to buy the seeds over the internet and the equipment to grow my own. After four months of tending a “garden” and a few weeks of cure time, I had my medicine. Not like going down to Long’s and picking up a prescription, but at least I did it, and it works quite well for me. My nerve pain is gone, I now sleep like a teenager, and I’m actually able to lose a bit of my extra weight I’d put on from some of the script meds I no longer need to take. I usually smoke about one to one and a half joints a day, in the evening, and that’s all I need.

I have been saddened by letters written to me by Dean Heller and by his NO vote on the Hinchey amendment. I voted for this guy, and then he turns on his own constituents and wouldn’t support a vote to protect a Nevadan? I guess I made a mistake. It’s a Republican war on people that continues, but the Dems aren’t that much better. Yes, the Dems talk big before the elections but when it down to politics, most are afraid of the pot issue. Thanks, Mr. Myers, for your great insight on this issue.

Name withheld
Reno

Pot hypocrisy
Re “Patients need patience” (News, Sept. 13):

If health outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms, marijuana would be legal. Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. Marijuana can be harmful if abused, but jail cells are inappropriate as health interventions and ineffective as deterrents.

The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican immigration during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the American Medical Association.

Dire warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages have been counterproductive at best. White Americans did not even begin to smoke pot until a soon-to-be entrenched government bureaucracy began funding reefer madness propaganda.

By raiding voter-approved medical marijuana providers in California, the very same U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that claims illicit drug use funds terrorism is forcing cancer and AIDS patients into the hands of street dealers. Apparently, marijuana prohibition is more important than protecting the country from terrorism.

Robert Sharpe
Washington, D.C.

We pay good money
Re “10 things I hate about Burning Man” (Feature story, Sept. 6):

I find it annoying that you published this article.

Both times I saw Brad Bynum at Burning Man, he was as happy as a Russian with pickles and vodka. For his next piece, I recommend he write an article titled, “10 Things I Hate About Brad Bynum” and stick to more honorable ways of padding his bank account.

Rick W. Bawls
via newsreview.com

Turned up to 11
Re “10 things I hate about Burning Man” (Feature story, Sept. 6):

Great review of BM 2007. The only thing you missed were the moochers. You would not have had any first-hand knowledge of this because you were not in an RV. These young Burners have only the resources to get a ticket and gas to the event. After that, they show up with little food and liquor and then scout out RV owners to leech off of! Are you gonna eat that? Can I use your toilet? Can I dump my grey water? Can I have a beer?

The moochers ruined my first-time burn.

Tom Gio
Sacramento