Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jan 2009
Source: Edmonds Enterprise (WA)
Copyright: 2009 The Enterprise Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.enterprisenewspapers.com/section/ETPZoneED
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4925
Author: Kirk Muse
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09.n086.a07.html

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.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin