Pubdate: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK) Copyright: 2000 The Anchorage Daily News Contact: http://www.adn.com/ Pubdate: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK) Author: Cheryl Goodrich SAVE FREEDOM; LEGALIZE POT There's no need to focus on possible industrial usage as a reason to legalize marijuana. As Bob Kelly (Letters, Oct. 9) pointed out, with our short growing season, it might not be very profitable. The fact is that marijuana should be legalized to preserve our personal freedom, and to reduce the harm caused by a black market. Let's say your teen starts smoking weed. The way the laws are now, the only way to get it would be through a dealer, who might also deal in harder drugs. The quality of black market weed can vary; for instance, it could be laced. Besides that, your child would be exposed to the danger associated with criminal activity. On the other hand, if a kid wants to buy alcohol, they try to find an older person to get it from a licensed shop that sells a federally regulated product. Sales to minors are far easier to track. There is no real danger involved other than getting caught. Of course no one wants their child drinking or smoking, but the fact is that most will at least experiment. Regulating marijuana would be far more effective in keeping our kids safe. Legalizing weed, an herb that is safer than caffeine, would separate it from harder drugs. It would legally allow medical patients to use the medicine Alaskans already voted to let them have. It would take marijuana off the streets and out of the hands of criminals. It would make the statement that Alaskans take their freedom seriously. - --- MAP posted-by: Andrew