Pubdate: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 Source: Boston Herald (MA) Copyright: 2013 The Boston Herald, Inc Contact: http://news.bostonherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53 Note: Prints only very short LTEs. Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n280/a02.html Author: Ben Gleason LEAVE POT USERS ALONE States like Colorado and Washington have recently legalized marijuana, while other states permit medical marijuana and countless jurisdictions have decriminalized marijuana and focused law enforcement resources on preventing dangerous and violent crime ("U.S. takes libertarian turn on gays, guns, pot," June 18). Yet the federal government continues to waste taxpayer money circumventing these local laws by prosecuting and intimidating citizens as part of the failed war on drugs. Regardless of one's beliefs on the wisdom of legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana, many agree that these decisions should be left up to states and cities who understand how to prioritize law enforcement in their communities. A recent Gallup poll found that 64 percent of Americans want the federal government to stop harassing people in states where marijuana is legal. At the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting this month, the area's mayors should support a resolution to stop wasting resources arresting people who abide by state and local laws. - - Ben Gleason, Cambridge - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom