"Greetings Kellogg,
"As a police officer for 34 years, 28 in San Diego, the last six as Seattle's police chief (1994-2000), I've witnessed a lifetime of pain and suffering caused by this nation's War on Drugs, and the punitive mentality behind it. I've also seen huge and growing support for sanse, sensible and compassionate drug policies.
"Until yesterday, Kellogg's Muesli was my favorite breakfast cereal. I've been enjoying it almost daily pretty much since you introduced it. With your decision to cut ties to Michael Phelps, I've purchased my last box. In fact, the one I just opened now sits atop my trash can. I plan to encourage everyone I know to reject Kellogg products, and will enthusiastically join the boycott being feverishly mounted as we speak.
"I believe you've underestimated the country's maturity on this issue, the overwhelming opposition to the ban on marijuana. One hundred million Americans have used cannabis at least once. That represents a formidable market force.
"I beg you to reverse your decision. It would be the right thing to do for your country, and your company. And I wouldn't have to wake up mornings longing for my favorite, all-time breakfast cereal.
"Sincerely,
"Norm Stamper"
Drug users are indeed a "formidable market" making up a large part of the community in our overcrowded prisons. Indeed California may be forced to review its War on Drugs policies, in particular the three-strikes law which puts repeat offenders behind bars for years regardless of how trivial their crimes may be, given that the state has been ordered by a federal court judge to reduce the prison population by a third due to conditions which the court considered tantamount to a violation of prisoners' Eighth Amendment rights. Since California, and other states, may be forced to take a more pragmatic* stance on the criminalization of cannabis consumers, in the long run is it really worth it for our society to get so hysterical about Phelps?
*An unintended benefit of California being forced to release prisoners and reduce sentences will be that the broke-ass state will also save a lot of money perhaps they'll be able to make good on some of those tax rebate IOUs which should land the failed state (and its Governor) in debtors jail!
