Regulate THC, then we can talk about legalizing weed

I have listened to and read the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana, and I don't see anyone talking about the strength of the THC in weed today.

The weed if the ‘70s was much weaker than the weed of today. Unless there are strict controls on that, I can't support legalization.

We have strict controls on the percentage of alcohol in liquor. You can't go into a bar or liquor store and buy a bottle of pure grain alcohol. Until we can have controls on the THC in weed, we can't legalize it.

If weed is to be consumed for medical purposes, the THC must be bred out of the marijuana plant. I can't see legalizing it just so stoners can get high any time they want. There must be controls!

— Teresa Hering, Phoenix

Why waste more time on prayer? Phoenix has better things to do

Regarding “Meeting begins silently, but prayer echoes reverberate”:

The Phoenix City Council is not a church. Why waste Phoenix tax dollars on recalls and special elections to reinstate the prayer that opens the council meetings?

If the City Council reinstates prayer and limits who can do it, they will be open to a lawsuit because not everyone prays the same way. We have a lot of work to do in this city. The council is wasting valuable resources on a threeminute process that opens a meeting.

Keep the moment of silence and stop pursuing this ridiculous and costly course of action. Focus on your work.

— Elaine Stewart, Phoenix

There are reasons to donate your body to medical schools

We read with great interest the article on Wednesday’s front page about Jimmy Valentine’s concerns regarding the identification of his wife’s remains ( “Arizona man wonders if he has his wife’s remains”).

It is timely that Midwestern University has just opened a new option for people in Maricopa County wishing to donate their bodies to a medical school for educational purposes. Once anatomical studies of the body are com- plete, we ensure that cremated remains are returned to the families based on their wishes.

Whole body donation trains healthcare professionals for tomorrow, introduces anatomy from an integrated systems perspective, and offers opportunities to improve medical and surgical techniques and procedures.

Donating to a medical school program means that you or your loved one are utilized for the sole purpose of health-care education.

As a university, we maintain high standards that ensure the security, dignity and respect for that process. We recognize the thoughtful consideration that goes into this decision, and we are grateful to those individuals who choose to invest in the future of health care through whole body donation.

— Dr. Linda Walters, Glendale The writer is an anatomy professor at

Midwestern University.

Afghanistan is a total failure, but feds will never say so

I watched a very disturbing congressional hearing on Afghanistan held on Feb. 12. Disturbing because on a $100 million cost overrun on a building, no one knows who is responsible. Our military personnel are treated as second-class citizens compared to the defense contractors.

The U.S. gave $200 million to Afghanistan for English language training, but we do not know if anyone is being trained. After 14 years it is so dangerous our people at the embassy never leave the embassy compound.

The hearing ended with handshakes all around, but there was no discussion on how to fix anything. After thousands of brave Americans and Afghans dying and spending trillions of dollars, the United States is so dysfunctional in this war.

I am very angry and very sad. Our politicians and generals have so camouflaged the true status of this giant Middle East war fiasco. They should resign, and then go to court to explain their hideous behavior and receive appropriate punishment.

— Gerald Kretsch, Cave Creek

Politicians promise the world? Just tell ‘em ‘huzenga!’

As we are lately promised the world by all political parties, I am reminded of an old short story:

An indigenous tribe was being visited by a group that was promising to bring them into the modern world. “We are going to bring you prosperity.”

To which all the people yelled, “Huzenga!” “We’ll educate your people.” “Huzenga!” Again and again, so it went. As they neared the cattle pens, a spokesman for the group said, “Be careful not to step in the huzenga.”

— Jeff Hall, Mesa

If my dad wasn’t disabled, this wouldn’t be an issue

My dad who is a Vietnam veteran is missing two limbs from the war. He has been an amputee for 46 years and during that time has lived as normal a life as possible. He has had a driver’s license this entire time.

Recently, he bought a new car, and the people who installed the extra gas pedal that is needed for him to drive told him he needed to let the Motor Vehicle Division know about the gas pedal. Since then, nothing but stress has been on my dad’s shoulders.

He went and got a doctor’s note, which is what the MVD wanted. Now they want him to take the same driving test that a brand-new 16-year-old driver would have to take.

When he turned 70, his license was reinstated, and none of this was an issue. He has been an Arizona driver for over 25 years, and this has never been an issue in the past.

This is a man who not only fought for this country but also sacrificed two limbs. And this is the way America thanks him, by threatening to take away his license?

I am most upset by the fact that being able to drive for my dad has brought normalcy into his life because no one sees his disability while he drives.

— Bobby Jo Appleton, Mesa