Pubdate: Sat, 05 Jul 2014
Source: News Journal, The (Wilmington, DE)
Copyright: 2014 The News Journal
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/1c6Xgdq3
Website: http://www.delawareonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/822
Author: George L. Miller

JAILING POT USERS IGNORES REAL PROBLEM

John A. Nichols' "Why are politicians indifferent to marijuana health
hazards" (June 29) was silent on some problems that he seems
indifferent to. Nichols ignores the long-term failure of the "War on
Drugs." Because of this law many citizens have been sent to jail for
being caught with marijuana. That has resulted in the paying of large
amounts of taxpayer money to incarcerate them. Beyond that expense to
taxpayers, the law has caused those entrapped to be labeled felons,
their family lives disrupted and has made it difficult for them to
reenter society and find employment.

One has to ask if it is worth having the highest global rate of
incarceration because of our ignorant war on drugs. Our government has
been losing that battle for a long time and we have paid the price.
If, according to Nichols, 7 percent of marijuana users continue to
smoke pot, the cost of treating their medical problems must be very
small compared to the cost of incarcerating all marijuana users and
the impact of those given prison records for smoking pot. Nichols'
essay ignores a major part of the debate and does a disservice to
those interested in the problem.

George L. Miller

Newark
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