Pubdate: Thu, 21 Nov 2002
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
Copyright: 2002 Lexington Herald-Leader
Contact:  http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240
Author: Brian Angel

REFORM MARIJUANA LAWS

I urge support for legislation to stop the practice of arresting marijuana 
smokers.

It's time to put to rest the myth that marijuana smoking is a fringe or 
deviant activity engaged in by those on the margins of society. In reality, 
marijuana smoking is extremely common, and marijuana is the recreational 
drug of choice for millions of hard-working, middle-class Americans.

Like most Americans, marijuana smokers are responsible citizens who work 
hard, raise families, contribute to their communities and want a safe, 
crime-free neighborhood in which to live.

Otherwise law-abiding citizens who smoke marijuana are not part of the 
crime problem, and we must stop treating them like criminals. Arresting and 
jailing marijuana smokers serves no legitimate purpose, and it has a 
terribly destructive effect on the lives, careers and families of the more 
than 500,000 marijuana smokers arrested each year in this country.

I urge you to support a change in federal criminal law that would focus 
law-enforcement efforts on violent criminals and end the practice of 
arresting and jailing otherwise law-abiding marijuana smokers.

Please reform the marijuana laws.

Brian Angel

Beattyville
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