Pubdate: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 Source: Modesto Bee, The (CA) Copyright: 2008 The Modesto Bee Contact: http://www.modbee.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/271 Author: Ted Trujillo FUNDS FROM LEGAL POT WOULD HELP STATE Reading The Bee's story on Prohibition ("We've come a long, long way: But the lasting marks of Prohibition remain," April 16, Page E-2), I had to laugh -- especially after reading on Page A-7 how the governor wants $7 billion for prisons (April 12). This in a state where we can't afford to keep schools open for our children. Anybody else flash on the amount of money liquor sales bring to this state? Now, how about legalizing marijuana? I keep thinking about that little store in Modesto, and how marijuana-caused accidents and arrests didn't skyrocket as predicted. Thousands of people smoke marijuana, legal or not. We need to decide if we want the money for its sale to go to criminals or to society. Now we have no control over who smokes marijuana or where the money goes. If we sold it in pharmacies, we would. The people against legalizing pot are for the criminals making money and for our children smoking it. We need to admit it is part of our society and deal with it, thereby hurting criminals and protecting our children. Ted Trujillo Turlock - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake