Pubdate: Tue, 04 Aug 2009 Source: Modesto Bee, The (CA) Copyright: 2009 The Modesto Bee Contact: http://www.modbee.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/271 Author: Anne Senk Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n755/a09.html MARIJUANA SMOKE HARMS OTHERS I was delighted to see Mike Harden's common sense, fact-based article. The only reason that some people want marijuana to be legalized is because they like to do it -- period. Our society currently has an increasingly complacent attitude about this problem. People who like to smoke marijuana don't care about anything else. People smoke marijuana brazenly at music concerts now, with absolutely no regard for the health and safety of the people sitting around them, including children. Legalizing marijuana would exponentially multiply problems like cigarette smokers cause, such as second-hand smoke, public smoking, air pollution, etc. If you think DUIs are a problem now, just imagine how much worse that would become. If you want to solve the state's budget problems, fine marijuana smokers and dealers lots of money! Save jail space for violent offenders, but hit the druggies in the pocketbook! If current penalties aren't enough, increase them. Trust me, the budget deficit would be gone very quickly. ANNE SENK Salida - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom