Gee, 90 years ago, if someone had snitched on me, I could have gotten arrested for making gin in my own bathtub for my personal use. Wow, now someone gets arrested for growing plants in their basement. If the good doctor had been in another state, such as Washington, nothing would have happened. Sometimes criminality is just a question of geography! Ray Andersen, Newburgh [end]
The criminal justice system in this country is broken. We have a greater percentage, by far, of our population in jail than any of the other western democracies in the world. We sentence more persons to the death penalty than any other western nations. The percentage of adult, black males in our prison system is a national disgrace and a disaster. As I've argued on these pages previously, we need to decriminalize the possession of drugs for personal use and legalize, plus tax, their proper distribution. [continues 244 words]
To the editor: The solution to overcrowding at jails and prisons everywhere is simple: Just decriminalize the possession of substances for personal use. It's far past time we realize the policies we have been pursuing for years have not worked and will never work! It's costing us billions of dollars every year to pursue failed policies. Isn't it time to change? Ray Andersen Newburgh [end]
