Pubdate: Sat, 1 Mar 2008
Source: Sun Chronicle (Attleboro, MA)
Copyright: 2008 Sun Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.thesunchronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3184
Author: Chrystal  Swenson

MARIJUANA SALES ATTRACT CRIME TO NEIGHBORHOOD

To the editor:

In the Feb. 28, Sun Chronicle there was an article about the arrest 
of alleged drug dealers and the seizure of about a pound of marijuana.

A pound of marijuana may not seem like a lot of drugs at first 
thought. But after living a few houses away from a drug dealer, I see 
this as a major victory for the neighbors of these men.

If you think about averages, it's startling. A pound of marijuana is 
broken down into 16 ounces.  Most average marijuana buyers purchase a 
quarter of an ounce. That's approximately 64 drug purchases per 
pound. That's a lot of extra traffic added to a small neighborhood.

If my average is only half right, it's still 32 criminals coming into 
the neighborhood, around families of hard working people.  That's 32 
criminals near our children's bus stop or driving down the street 
when you're walking with your baby, your dog or just trying to get to 
the train.

At this time in Massachusetts marijuana is an illegal substance.  It 
has been proven many times that marijuana is a gateway drug that 
leads to more serious types of drug use such methamphetamines. You 
only have to read the news to know that drug users often commit 
crimes to support their habits.

The article went on to say that these aren't bad boys. They'd give 
you the shirt off their back. They may give you the shirt off their 
back, only because they are making money dealing drugs and can buy a 
new one! Wake up! Good boys don't deal drugs, good boys don't 
associate with gangs real or imagined. Good boys don't take the 
illegal and easy way out to make money. Good boys get a job and work 
hard like the rest of us.

Make no mistake, these are not good boys. These are criminals.

As a law-abiding citizen and mother to three truly good boys, I 
appreciate the hard work of our law enforcement agencies to keep us safe.

Chrystal Swenson

Attleboro 
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