Letters to the Editor: Legalize marijuana; thanks from The Saltbox

Legalize marijuana

Recreational marijuana use for adults is legal in 11 states, four U.S. territories and in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.. Medical marijuana is legal in 33 states. Marijuana use of any type is illegal in Kentucky, but many people here surreptitiously use marijuana recreationally and to relieve medically related symptoms of glaucoma, nausea from chemotherapy, and loss of appetite from HIV wasting, just to name a few real benefits.

Because so many young and old folks in Kentucky already use it illegally, I wonder if any users have considered their future sources. How will someone in a nursing home access the marijuana they have used in the past? How will they get the weed they need as geezers?

Our governor and political representatives should seriously consider legalizing recreational and medical marijuana. If regulated and taxed like cigarettes, marijuana can eventually help Kentucky dig itself out of the state’s income shortfall and keep many grams and gramps from being transferred from the nursing home to jail.

Phyllis O’Dell, Lexington

Thanks to all

As we prepare for our final days at Janice’s at The Saltbox, we want to thank the Herald-Leader staff who took the time to cover our story of a family-owned business here in Lexington. Bettye Lee Mastin, Beverly Fortune, Mary Meehan, Harriett Hendren, Kathy Larkin, and Tina Croley were all masters of their craft.

We also want to thank our loyal employees, Carol Straub and Sandy Besten, and all the many subcontractors we worked with on our projects.

But mostly, we want to thank all the wonderful customers and clients who supported us throughout our 41 years in business. We will miss you all.

Janice Langston and Andra Gyor, owners; Lexington

Remember the oath

To help Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul in these difficult times, I am including their oath of office, below. My expectations of them as my Kentucky U.S. senators is that they will keep this oath of office in the forefront of their thinking as they carry out their duties to conduct a fair, complete, and solemn trial of the articles of impeachment of President Donald J. Trump that are soon to be (or now) before them. I understand that they will also swear a separate oath to be an impartial juror of this impeachment trial. That should not include “coordinating with the White House”.

The oath of office follows:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

Ken Cooley, Cadiz

Listen to farmers

My hunch is many Kentucky farmers have heard plenty about this groundbreaking meeting on American agriculture and climate change; although their city cousins are probably unaware. It happened last June in Maryland. The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance organized a national strategy session on climate change comprised of about 100 movers and shakers including farmers, three secretaries of agriculture, CEOs of food processors, green groups, and anti-hunger groups. Their basic purpose was first to fully recognize our farmers’ own experiences with extreme weather in recent years, and second to motivate their constructive participation in this critical issue. It’s been said by many that climate change denial among rural Americans was really pushback against out-of-touch city dwellers, intrusive environmentalists, and knee-jerk liberals who unfairly blamed the farmers. That rationalization might be a bit superficial. Even so, it’s clear that farmers and agriculture business leaders are ready to shift gears. Let’s pay careful attention to what they have to say.

Tom Louderback, Louisville

GOP no help

President Donald Trump, the Republican Party, and white supremacists stand for everything that I am against.The only people Trump and his enablers have helped are large companies and the top 1 percent by giving them tax breaks. Trump and the Republicans have never done anything to benefit the poor people.

Wake up and smell the coffee before it is too late.The Republicans are never going to do anything that would benefit us poor folks.

Victor Privett, Nicholasville