Pubdate: Wed, 21 Jan 2009
Source: Shoreline Lake Forest Park Enterprise (WA)
Copyright: 2009 The Enterprise Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.enterprisenewspapers.com/section/ETPZoneSHL
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4970
Author: Kirk Muse

MARIJUANA PROHIBITION MAKES NO SENSE

Thanks for publishing Darral Good's thoughtful letter: "Gregoire and Palin
have at least one thing in common" (Enterprise, Jan. 21).

I'd like to add that it makes no sense, economic or moral, to jail or
imprison marijuana users or sellers. Our jails and prisons should be
reserved for those who harm others against their will -- not marijuana
users or sellers.

We don't jail or imprison those who produce, sell or use tobacco products
-- even though tobacco is a highly addictive and very deadly product.

We don't have criminals growing tobacco in clandestine locations.

We don't have tobacco producers or sellers attempting to settle their
disputes with each other with gun battles in the streets.

If we were to criminalize tobacco, the situation would soon change.

We learned our lesson about criminalizing the drug alcohol in only 13
years. Why can't we learn the same lesson about other drugs?

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.