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