Pubdate: Sun, 16 Feb 2003
Source: Birmingham News, The (AL)
Copyright: 2003 The Birmingham News
Contact:  http://al.com/birminghamnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/45
Author: Frank W. Schober
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n227/a04.html

TEEN'S PRISON TERM IS LOONY JUSTICE

The Birmingham News on Feb. 9 told the story of a teenager sentenced
to 26 years in prison for marijuana. In my opinion, our justice system
is as crazy as a loon. How will society be bettered by putting this
youngster in jail until he is an old man?

I think marijuana is less of a threat or problem to society than
tobacco or alcohol, and our government supports tobacco growers and
state stores sell alcohol. Why?

The answer is simple because of the taxes received from both. I was a
youngster during the Prohibition days, and I remember the oldsters at
the time saying that more alcohol was made and consumed than before.

It seems that human nature is attracted to the forbidden, so if
marijuana were legalized, much less would be used and it could be
taxed heavily, like tobacco and alcohol. Makes sense to me.

Frank W. Schober

Minor
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