Pubdate: Wed, 05 Feb 2014 Source: Spartanburg Herald Journal (SC) Copyright: 2014 Dennis E. Hall Contact: http://www.goupstate.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/977 Author: Dennis E. Hall DON'T LEGALIZE MARIJUANA Where does the Herald-Journal get these columnists, such as Kathleen Parker (Jan. 22 edition), who advocated legalizing marijuana? She describes forming this opinion through maturity and experience. She rightly says that alcohol or any drugs are bad for children. Then why are drugs OK for adults? The truth is that they are harmful to adults as well. One of the arguments made against the drug war is that it is ruining young lives by giving them criminal records. Our law enforcement officers are not giving our young people criminal records. They are doing this to themselves. Another argument for legalizing drugs is that governments can tax them and rake in millions of dollars to fund projects for our nation or states. Yeah, as if our state, with the Education Lottery, has solved all of our financial needs for schools in South Carolina. I get tired of these adults who say, "I tried drugs as a young person, and look how well I turned out." Maybe that's why we have all these problems in America and no one has the wisdom to solve any of them. Dennis E. Hall Spartanburg - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D