In New York City last month, a 14-year-old died when he jumped from a six-story roof to avoid being caught by the police. His crime? He and some friends were smoking pot. This was a tragic and needless death.

Of course no one thinks smoking pot a good or healthy activity for a teenager, but it happens. And it's certainly not something someone should die from. But draconian drug laws turn children in to criminals.

That's why I am completely baffled by the Santa Cruz County supervisors' decision to "re-criminalize" pot cultivation. Santa Cruz, which prides itself on its liberal image, has taken the most reactionary position on marijuana at a time when most of the rest of the country is recognizing that legalization, quality control, taxation and management is a far wiser and financially lucrative tactic. Colorado sold $5 million worth of marijuana products the first week it became legal. Believe me, Mr. McPherson, they are not going to stop selling it. The marijuana industry, right now, is the fastest growing industry in this country and Santa Cruz supervisors are choosing to opt out.

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