Pubdate: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Copyright: 2014 Hearst Communications Inc. Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1 Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388 Author: Michael J. Haworth FOLLY OF ARCHAIC DRUG LAWS Congratulations are in order for San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon ("Softer drug law has unlikely bedfellows," C.W. Nevius, Jan. 30) for promoting the idea of lighter sentences for all drug possession and for realizing that the decades-long war on drugs has little effect other than criminalizing otherwise law-abiding citizens and increasing our already bloated prison population. His years in law enforcement have undoubtedly allowed him to see the folly of these archaic drug laws and, firsthand, the lives ruined by felony convictions that follow a person forever. My hope is that the necessary signatures are gathered and that it qualifies for the state ballot in November. Current polling indicates a favorability rating of 60 percent. Should this become law, California will take the lead in rational drug enforcement and join Colorado and Washington as progressive models for the nation. Michael J. Haworth, Vallejo - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom