Gary Storck: Come to festival for realistic portrayal of marijuana

Gary Storck  —  8/24/2008 7:06 am

Dear Editor:

It was preposterous to include "marijuana plants growing in a back yard" among a sampling of police calls to properties on West Main and West Doty that were apparently meant to depict genuine threats to public safety ("Despite recent murder, residents still committed to Bassett neighborhood," Aug. 20).

Cannabis plants do not push past people to gain access to secure buildings or drunkenly bang on doors, nor do they murder people. Cannabis is not part of why this area is troubled. And far too often, the only mention of marijuana in the media is in a negative manner, as in your unwarranted linkage to violent incidents.

For a more positive and realistic portrayal of the cannabis plant and its many uses, including food, fuel, fiber and medicine, come to the 38th Annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival in downtown Madison from Oct. 3-5. The traditional parade from Library Mall to the State Street steps of the Wisconsin State Capitol departs at 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5, arriving at Capitol Square about 4:20 p.m. for a rally and concert. A Friday night medical cannabis benefit at the Cardinal Bar from 5-8, and a day of live music at Library Mall on Saturday, set the stage for Sunday's festivities.

For more information and a full schedule, visit: MadisonNorml.org, or our Community Pages site at www.madison.com/communities/madisonNORML/events/.

Gary Storck

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

Madison chapter

Gary Storck  —  8/24/2008 7:06 am