Pubdate: Mon, 18 May 2015
Source: San Bernardino Sun (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Los Angeles Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.sbsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1417
Author: David Quintero

TIME TO LEGALIZE POT

Each day, physicians throughout America prescribe powerful opiates and 
often for lengthy periods without resulting in addiction. Shouldn't that 
put to rest the myth that pot is a detrimental, mind-altering drug ripe 
for abuse?

The parallel between our nation's prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s, 
and today's vehement opposition to pot is inescapable. It took 13 years 
of failure before our government finally, in 1933, came to its senses 
and repealed the 18th Amendment. So, like beer and wine, isn't it time 
to legalize pot?

Last November, New York City's Mayor Bill deBlasio reduced the penalty 
for marijuana possession to the equivalence of a ticket. Imagine the 
millions of dollars now redirected in New York City to more useful purposes.

Imagine also the relief now felt by the tens of thousands of citizens 
who no longer need to fear prosecution and jail time for possessing 
small amounts of marijuana. It'll be a happy day when we stop our 
puritanical obsession of equating the "sin" of smoking pot to that of 
criminal conduct.

David Quintero, Monrovia
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